North Carolina boasts a diverse array of professional and collegiate sports teams that have captured the hearts of fans throughout the state. From the NFL's Carolina Panthers to the college basketball powerhouses of the North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils, these teams have built a loyal and passionate following.
In the past, states with such fervent sports cultures often viewed sports betting with skepticism, concerned about the potential impact on their beloved hometown teams. However, as attitudes towards sports betting have evolved and more states have legalized the practice, North Carolina has embraced the opportunity to enhance the sports viewing experience for fans while generating new revenue streams for the state.
With the launch of legal online sports betting in March 2024, North Carolinians can now showcase their support for their favorite teams not only through unwavering dedication but also by responsibly placing wagers on their performances.
*Despite boasting some of the best sports teams in the country, NC residents will have to wait to access top-tier US bookmakers such as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, PointsBet, BetRivers, Fox Bet, and Unibet. Though, do not worry; we have you covered with the best offshore bookmakers in the world, as listed above.
Table of Contents
North Carolina Sports Betting Timeline Can I bet on sports in North Carolina? North Carolina Casinos Betting on North Carolina Sports Teams Top Online Sportsbooks for Betting in North CarolinaA Brief Timeline of the Legality of North Carolina Sports Betting
2024
- March 11, 2024 - Online sports betting is now live across the state.
- March 7, 2024 – Sports technology company Sportradar announces that it has been granted a sports betting supplier license in North Carolina, further bolstering the state's growing sports betting ecosystem.
- March 1, 2024 – As promised, FanDuel begins accepting pre-registrations for its North Carolina sportsbook, allowing eager bettors to create accounts in anticipation of the March 11 launch.
- February 27, 2024 – BetMGM announces a strategic partnership with the Charlotte Motor Speedway, securing market access to the North Carolina sports betting industry and reinforcing its commitment to the state's sports fans.
- February 13, 2024 – Caesars Sportsbook reveals its launch date as March 11, coinciding with the initiation of legal betting in North Carolina.
- February 8, 2024 – The 2024 ACC Tournament is set to kick off on March 12, a day after the commencement of legal online sports betting in North Carolina. Notably, the ACC features four college teams from North Carolina.
- February 8, 2024 – Despite awaiting approval for sports betting licenses, FanDuel's website states that the sportsbook will be accessible on March 11, "subject to regulatory approval." Pre-registration is scheduled to commence on March 1.
- February 2, 2024 – Caesars announces an expanded partnership with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, granting access to the North Carolina sports betting market.
- January 24, 2024 – North Carolina sports betting regulators officially declare March 11, 2024, as the state's launch date for legal online sports betting, strategically aligned one week before the onset of March Madness.
North Carolina Sports Betting Timeline
We take a look at the sports betting law in North Carolina, both past and present.
A Brief Look at North Carolina's Relationship to Gambling
North Carolina isn’t a state that is gambling-savvy. They resisted casinos in the past, which is in part due to their beliefs, as North Carolina is a very religious state, and gambling is frowned upon.
The state didn’t want the residents getting addicted and letting casinos take all of their constituent’s hard-earned money, but they did end up buckling and allowing a few casinos to sprout up. There are three tribal saloons in the state of North Carolina and are operated by the Cherokee tribe.
The Expansion of Sports Betting in North Carolina 2023 to 2024
In June 2023, Governor Roy Cooper signed HB 347 into law, paving the way for the legalization of online sports betting in North Carolina. The bill allowed for up to 12 online sportsbooks to operate in the state, in partnership with professional sports organizations.
March 11, 2024, marked a significant milestone in North Carolina's sports betting history, as the state officially launched its online sports betting market. Eight licensed sportsbooks, including FanDuel, Caesars, BetMGM, bet365, and DraftKings, began accepting bets from bettors across the state.
The Legalization of Sports Betting in the State 2019 to 2021
However, despite all of the anti-gambling stances in the state, sports betting was legalized in North Carolina in July 2019. The bill that was approved was S154, which allows sports betting in-person at the three tribal saloon casinos in the state.
The start of 2021 marked the beginning of legalized sports betting in North Carolina, permitting betting on both college and professional sports markets - though bettors must place their wagers in-person at one of two retail locations.
Can I bet on sports in North Carolina?
Yes, sports betting is technically legal in the state of North Carolina, but as of right now, there are no in-person sportsbooks available to the public at this time, only casinos. Luckily for sports fans in the state, you can place wagers online at sportsbooks.
As of March 11, 2024, you can place bets online through one of the eight licensed sportsbooks operating in the state. Additionally, in-person sports betting is available at three tribal casinos: Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort, Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel, and Catawba Two Kings Casino.
Online sportsbooks can be daunting, as some see them as a money grab or scam. Many online sportsbooks are safe and secure, but it’s advised that you do research before signing up.
North Carolina Casinos
The three tribal casinos that offer sports betting are located in the Cherokee area, roughly three hours from Charlotte, United States.
- Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort
- Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel
- Catawba Two Kings Casino
Betting on North Carolina Sports Teams
The Duke Blue Devils are a widely popular collegiate program, their basketball team being the most popular of all time. They have been around for over 100 years, and have made an appearance in March Madness 41 times. They have only missed the NCAA tournament once since 1984, and have been to 16 Final Fours and have five NCAA titles.
Another college basketball program that is notable is the North Carolina Tar Heels. They are well known and received, and having Michael Jordan among their alumni definitely got some attention. UNC has only missed three NCAA tournaments in the past 45 years, with 48 March Madness appearances, 20 Final Fours, and six national championships.
A tilt between Duke and UNC would definitely stress out sports fans in the state – good luck getting a ticket to that matchup because they usually run about $2,000 USD.
Football Teams
In the NFL, the Carolina Panthers are relatively new to the league, only joining in 1995. The Panthers have had ups and downs, but have indeed had some impressive Super Bowl runs, with their most recent being in 2016 where they lost to the Denver Broncos. They have been struggling since then and hoping for another shot at the Lombardi.
Other Major Sports Teams
In the NBA, the Charlotte Hornets, owned by NBA superstar Michael Jordan, reclaimed their name after serving as the Charlotte Bobcats for a 10-year stint from 2004 to 2014. The team has no championships, conference titles, or even division titles.
The Carolina Hurricanes are based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and are the state’s sole NHL team. Formed in 1971 as the New England Whalers, then moved to Hartford and finally found their permanent home in Carolina as The Hurricanes in 1997. They have one Stanley Cup (2006) which was the first professional sports championship won by the state, two conference championships, and three division championships.
NASCAR is another notable sport that North Carolina residents can’t get enough of. The Charlotte Motor Speedway hosts several NASCAR events every year, reeling in 94,000-171,000 fans in their stadium.
Top Online Sportsbooks for Betting in North Carolina
Online sportsbooks are nothing to be afraid of. If you have all of the information you need and know all of the facts before signing up, you will likely have a great online betting experience. Some online sportsbooks are better than others and we want to make sure you know about the best available books to ensure you’re having the best betting experience.
We at OnlineSportsBetting have compiled online sportsbook reviews that thoroughly evaluate and give recommendations on certain sportsbooks. These are sportsbooks we use ourselves, so they are of great quality, and you can ensure that they are trustworthy.
Check out our sportsbook reviews for certain bonuses that you may want to take advantage of, deposit options that you may need to use, and more.
Legal Sports Betting States
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- N.Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
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