North Carolina has officially embarked on its online sports gambling journey, with multiple prominent operators now live. This milestone was achieved after fulfilling various prerequisites mandated by the legislation.
The Journey to Launch
Governor Roy Cooper transformed House Bill 347 into law in June of the previous year, setting the stage for the launch in January 2024. The regulations were unveiled at the start of the year, and operators submitted their internal controls prior to the market’s opening.
Major Players Dominate the North Carolina Scene
The North Carolina State Lottery Commission issued eight interactive sports wagering licenses, primarily to well-known entities, marking the first round of applications. The number of operators is anticipated to grow.Leading the pack, FanDuel and DraftKings were among the first to introduce online sports gambling in North Carolina. FanDuel is enticing new users with sign-up promotions, while DraftKings broadens its footprint to the 27th state in the US. Other significant operators include:
- Caesars Entertainment
- Fanatics
- Bet365
- BetMGM
- ESPN Bet
- Underdog
Mandatory Partnerships for Operational Approval
A key requirement for operators to activate in North Carolina is to establish a partnership with a local sports team, league, or venue. For instance, DraftKings has allied with NASCAR. Matt Kalish, the North American president of DraftKings, expressed:”We’re proud to be working alongside NASCAR as our market access partner and look forward to enhancing the fan experience across North Carolina with a fun, safe and seamless sports betting product.”Kalish was thrilled about introducing online sports gambling to North Carolina, a state renowned for its college basketball and fervent sports fans across all disciplines.Other operators’ partnerships include:
- BetMGM with the Charlotte Motor Speedway
- Fanatics with NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes
- ESPN Bet with golf’s PGA Tour and the Wells Fargo Championship
- Bet365 with NBA’s Charlotte Hornets
- Underdog with McConnell Golf
Licenses for Sports Data Providers
Lastly, companies like GeoComply, SBTech, and Sportradar, which supply sports data to approved operators, were granted sports wagering supplier licenses valid for five years.
