While we rejoice that legal online sports betting is coming to North Carolina, it's important to note that North Carolina sports betting officially was legalized in July 2019 with Senate Bill 154. However, this sports betting bill only allowed for in-person retail sports betting at tribal casinos, like Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah's Cherokee Valley River, which both host Caesars Sportsbook North Carolina locations.
After NC sports betting launched, only three retail sportsbooks were available to North Carolina bettors. It remained more convenient for most people to travel to either Tennessee or Virginia to place wagers.
Now that Gov. Cooper has signed House Bill 347 and legalized mobile sports betting, it's just a matter of time before North Carolina bettors can take part in mobile sports betting from anywhere in the state. The online sports betting bill allows for sports bets on professional, college, and other sports throughout the world. It also creates the opportunity for the best North Carolina sportsbooks to help grow this burgeoning sports betting market.
Exploring The Boundaries Of Senate Bill 154
Back in 2019, Governor Roy Cooper signed Senate Bill 154 into law, legalizing North Carolina sports betting. However, this only permitted retail sports betting at in-person sportsbooks at tribal casinos. This included three retail sportsbook locations: Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort, Harrah's Cherokee Valley River, and Catawba Two Kings.
Unlike sports betting laws in other states across the country, Senate Bill 154 did allow for betting on in-state college sports programs. This meant North Carolina sports bettors could place bets on the Duke Blue Devils or North Carolina Tar Heels, but only at the tribal casinos.
New NC House Bill 347
When House Bill 347, which was passed by the North Carolina Senate and North Carolina House, was signed into law by Governor Roy Cooper on Wednesday, June 14, it legalized online sports betting in North Carolina. Going from solely retail sportsbooks to online sportsbooks will give North Carolina sports bettors the opportunity to bet from anywhere within state lines with their mobile phones, computers, or other capable devices.
This sports betting bill changes legal sports betting in North Carolina as, under the new law, the North Carolina Lottery Commission is authorized to issue online sports betting licenses to sportsbook operators. Up to 12 licenses can be granted, and legal North Carolina sports betting apps are expected to arrive in the Tar Heel State in 2024. The North Carolina Lottery Commission will also be responsible for regulating sports wagering in the state and collecting any sportsbook license application fees.
The North Carolina Education Lottery, which oversees in-state gambling such as instant scratch-offs and drawings such as Powerball, Mega Millions, and Carolina Cash 5, will not offer sports betting or horse racing wagering per the North Carolina sports betting bill. However, the North Carolina Education Lottery is expected to benefit from the revenues generated through this new legislation.
Legal mobile betting is the future of sports wagering in North Carolina with the best North Carolina sportsbooks set to arrive as early as January 2024.
NC Sports Betting Legislation Updates 2023
With both the North Carolina House and the North Carolina Senate voting to legalize online sports betting, it's just a matter of time before legal sports betting apps go live in the Tar Heel State.
The recently-signed House Bill 347 legalized mobile sports betting and will completely revolutionize the North Carolina sports betting scene. Previously, NC sports bettors had to place wagers at tribal casinos at one of three retail sportsbooks. Of course, this legislation to legalize online sports betting will allow online NC sports betting from anywhere within North Carolina state lines.
However, this does not mean a light switch is flipped and online sports betting is immediately available. Legal online sports betting apps and websites must now get approved for licenses and have proper regulations in place before online North Carolina sports betting officially launches. January 8, 2024, is the target date and the earliest we will see NC sports betting sites and mobile betting launch.
Current State Of Legal Sports Betting In North Carolina
There has been plenty of recent news and headlines about North Carolina sports betting. As we have noted here, House Bill 347 was signed into law on June 14, 2023. This officially legalized online sports betting in the state of North Carolina. This means that anyone that is at least 21 years old and physically located within the state can sign up and bet on sports, once the legal sports betting market launches in early 2024.
You will then be able to download an app on your phone and bet from absolutely anywhere within the Tar Heel State borders. Of course, North Carolina bettors can still place bets in the meantime at one of the retail sportsbooks at tribal casinos listed below.
- Caesars Sportsbook North Carolina: Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort: 777 Casino Drive, Cherokee, NC 28719.
- Caesars Sportsbook North Carolina: Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel: 777 Casino Parkway, Murphy, NC 28906.
- Catawba Two Kings Sportsbook: Catawba Two Kings Casino: 538 Kings Mountain Blvd., Kings Mountain, NC 28086.
For now, everything remains status quo as legal online sports betting in North Carolina won't launch until January 2024 at the earliest. Continue reading for more on the future North Carolina sportsbooks.