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North Carolina Sportsbooks: Get Ready for Launch on March 11, 2024

Chris Lollis
Written by: | Fact checked by: Mike Noblin
Last Updated: March 11th, 2024

North Carolina sports betting officially went live on March 11, 2024. Our top-rated NC sportsbooks include DraftKings, Bet365, BetMGM, and FanDuel. Find the current bonus offers for all four apps in the table below.

North Carolina Sportsbooks

Rank SportsBook Offer Features Play
#1 DraftKings Sportsbook North Carolina
5 out of 5
Bet $5, Get $250
In Bonus Bets Instantly
NC Only, 21+. Please Gamble Responsibly. Gambling problem? Call or Text 1-800-522-4700 or visit http://www.ncpgambling.org/
NC Launch Offer
No Code Needed
Follow Link for Offer
Claim Offer
#2 Bet365 NC Launch Offer
4.9 out of 5
Bet $5, Get $200
In Bonus Bets Instantly
NC Only, 21+. Please Gamble Responsibly. Gambling problem? Call or Text 1-800-522-4700 or visit http://www.ncpgambling.org/
NC Launch Offer
$10 Min. Deposit
Promo Code: 365BV1
Claim Offer
#3 BetMGM North Carolina
4.9 out of 5
Bet $5, Get $150
In Bonus Bets Instantly
NC Only, 21+. Please Gamble Responsibly. Gambling problem? Call or Text 1-800-522-4700 or visit http://www.ncpgambling.org/
NC Launch Offer
Limited Time Only
Promo Code: EWBET1
Claim Offer
#4 FanDuel NC Bonus Offer
4.8 out of 5
Bet $5, Get $250
In Bonus Bets Instantly
21+ and present in NC. Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov.
NC Launch Offer
No Code Needed
Follow Link for Bonus
Claim Offer
North Carolina Sports Betting Launch Details

North Carolina Sports Betting Overview

Current legal sports betting status in NC: Retail and online betting live as of March 11, 2024.

Sports fans and bettors are fired up in North Carolina, and with good reason. Sports fans in the Tar Heel State can now bet live at in-person sportsbooks. Want even better news than that?

Thanks to the North Carolina State Lottery Commission, online sports betting apps are now available in the state. This means that all college hoops fans in North Carolina will be able to bet during this year's March Madness!

NC is a massive sports market. With professional teams in the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLS, as well as UNC, Duke, NC State, Wake Forest, App State, and East Carolina, there are a ton of sports fans in the state. The Tar Heel State has the ninth highest population in the US, and is also the country's fifth fastest growing state.

Top North Carolina Sportsbook by Feature

Each sportsbook in the Tar Heel State has its own unique set of pros and cons. Because of that, it pays to know which sportsbook features are the most crucial to you.

The following table shows the best sportsbooks in North Carolina by feature. This is meant to help new sports bettors efficiently find the online sports betting apps that work best for their needs. We'll adjust these as the North Carolina sports betting market matures.

FeatureWinnerWhy it's Our Pick
Best Mobile App⭐️ FanDuel SportsbookWhile there are a ton of nice-looking sports betting apps in North Carolina, none can hold a candle to FanDuel. It looks remarkable, each sport is easy to find, and the app is loaded to the gills with features.
Best Bonus Offer⭐️ Bet365Bet365 has been the most aggressive in terms of signup bonuses of late when moving into new markets. For a limited time, Bet365 is offering a sizable Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets deal for all new North Carolina sports investors.
Best Player Props⭐️ DraftKings SportsbookProp betting is becoming more and more popular these days and no one does it better than DK! North Carolina sports fans be shocked at the wide variety of player prop options they offer each day!
Best Rewards Program⭐️ CaesarsCaesars Rewards is the creme de la creme of loyalty programs. Every new Caesars player in NC will be able to earn lots of cool perks like hotel stays and Bonus Bets in the sportsbook app.
Best Customer Support⭐️ BetMGMBetMGM goes to great lengths when it comes to Customer Support. The "King of Sportsbooks" has a solid Customer Care Team that's always ready to help with your wagering needs.
6 College Basketball Best Bets for Saturday, February 25

Latest News for Sports Betting in North Carolina

So what should North Carolina sports bettor's expectations be for online sports betting? It's hard to say at this point, but at least the market is finally live. To get all of the latest info about North Carolina sports betting, check out the following latest news headlines.

Commission Issues Licenses to Sports Betting Suppliers

North Carolina took another major step toward a successful online sports betting launch. The North Carolina State Lottery Commission officially granted licenses to 7 sports betting supplier companies.

SportContentCo LLC, SIS Content Systems Inc., FEMG CO., International Betting Integrity Association, Idology Inc., Swish Analytics North Carolina Inc., and LexisNexis Risk Solutions FL Inc. will provide a wide array of services to the state. However, none of these companies will be accepting sports bets in North Carolina.

What SportsBook Options Do NC Bettors Have?

Eight online sportsbooks have applied for a license in North Carolina. Here is a quick list of which ones are live in the state as of March 11, 2024:

  • DraftKings
  • FanDuel
  • Caesars
  • BetMGM
  • Bet365
  • ESPN BET
  • Fanatics
  • Underdog Sports

Other names like BetRivers, Hard Rock, and Super Book may throw their hats into the ring as well, but none of them have applied for an NC sportsbook license yet. This is great news for bettors because more competition means better lines and more lucrative bonus offers!

According to the House Bill, North Carolina will be able to offer a max of 12 online sports betting apps. The 8 pro sports arenas within the state will be allowed to partner with operators to offer some more in-person sportsbook options.

Caesars and FanDuel Are Now Live in North Carolina

Caesars and FanDuel are both live in the Tar Heel State. Sports bettors have been lining up left and right to bet on their beloved college basketball teams and the hometown Charlotte Hornets.

Caesars announced an alliance with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on February 2, 2024, which granted them access to North Carolina on the official launch date.

Just How Big Will Online Sports Betting Be in North Carolina?

With major cities like Charlotte, Raleigh, and Asheville, North Carolina ranks 9th in the US for overall population. That means the potential for sports betting revenue is huge for the state.

North Carolina is very similar to Michigan, which brought in a total sports betting handle of over $4.6 billion in 2023. The House Bill states that operators must pay 18% of their betting revenues to the state in taxes.

Economists believe that North Carolina could rake in more than $100 million in taxes each year by year five. Most of those tax dollars will go toward North Carolina schools and gambling addiction programs.

The March 11th Launch Date Makes Perfect Sense

While folks in North Carolina would have loved to have online sports betting by the Super Bowl, March 11th is was still a prime time for a launch. North Carolina is the epicenter for college hoops and the 2024 ACC Tournament will tip off on Tuesday, March 12th.

With dedicated college basketball fans from UNC, NC State, Wake Forest, and Duke, the amount of CBB betting handle within the state will be massive. Also, don't forget about all of the handle involving the NBA's Charlotte Hornets. It's easy to see why the state chose the 11th as their official go-live date.

Sportsbook Partnerships in North Carolina

To be able to operate as a sportsbook in North Carolina, each online sports betting app had to partner with either a land-based casino or a professional sports organization/franchise. Here is a quick list of the current partnerships.

Online BookPartnerLaunch Date
Bet365Charlotte HornetsMarch 11, 2024
BetMGMCharlotte Motor SpeedwayMarch 11, 2024
CaesarsEastern Band of Cherokee IndiansMarch 11, 2024
DraftKings NASCARMarch 11, 2024
ESPN Bet Quail Hollow Club and the Wells Fargo ChampionshipMarch 11, 2024
Fanatics Carolina HurricanesMarch 11, 2024
FanDuel PGA TourMarch 11, 2024
Underdog SportsMcConnell GolfMarch 11, 2024

Top Pro Sports Teams to Bet On in North Carolina

While college sports (especially basketball) get most of the attention in North Carolina, there are still plenty of pro sports teams to wager on. Check out our list of the 5 professional sports franchises in the Tar Heel State.

Carolina Panthers

It's no secret that the NFL is King when it comes to sports betting! Folks in North Carolina will love finally being able to bet on their beloved Panthers during the 2024-25 season. Carolina has made the Super Bowl twice in its young existence but has yet to win a Lombardi Trophy. However, with a new coach and a young QB, this franchise looks to be in full rebuilding mode.

Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets have been around since 1988, even though they changed their name to the Bobcats from 2004 to 2014. Though the franchise hasn't seen much postseason success, the Hornets are still very much beloved as the main NBA team in the area. LaMelo Ball is giving fans all kinds of highlight reels so far in the 2023-24 season.

Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes are one of the hottest teams in the NHL. Led by Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis, this year's squad looks poised to make another deep playoff run. Carolina brought home the Stanley Cup Title in 2006.

Charlotte FC

Charlotte FC is one of the youngest teams in Major League Soccer. The club was founded in 2022 after Charlotte underwent several unsuccessful tries at bringing an MLS team to the QC. Charlotte FC makes its first playoff appearance as a Wild Card team in 2023.

North Carolina Courage

Competing in the National Women's Soccer League, the Courage is the most successful pro sports team in the state. They've won two league titles and are a perennial contender. Head coach Sean Nahas is excited about his team's chances in 2024.

North Carolina Sportsbooks FAQs

Now that online sports betting is officially legal in North Carolina, folks within the state are bound to have questions. To help with that, we've created the following FAQ section. Our goal is to help North Carolina sports bettors get the answers they need as quickly as possible.

We'll be updating this section quite frequently, especially now that North Carolina online sportsbooks have launched.

Is sports betting legal in North Carolina?

Yes, North Carolina legalized sports betting back in 2019. However, the options werestill limited to 3 tribal casinos (Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort, Harrah's Cherokee Valley River, and Catawba Two Kings Casino). However, online sportsbooks have now officially launched in the Tar Heel State.

When will North Carolina have online sports betting?

Governor Cooper signed online sports betting into law on June 14, 2023. The House Bill (HB 347) states that NC will have sports betting on March 11, 2024. This gives the NCLC time to develop regulations.

How many online sportsbooks will NC have?

The law states that North Carolina can have a max of 12 online sportsbooks. As of this moment, there are 8 online sports betting apps available in the state.

Why does it take so long for a state to go from legalization to launch?

When a state approves online sports betting, there is a ton of work to be done. In North Carolina's case, the Lottery Commission will have to establish all of the state's rules and regulations before a launch date can happen.

Will North Carolina also offer betting on horse races?

Yes, part of the House Bill states that North Carolina will offer horse racing for their residents and visitors as well as sports betting.

What is the legal age for sports betting in North Carolina?

The legal age for sports betting in North Carolina is 21 years old. This applies to both online and offline betting. All bettors must also be physically located within the state's borders when placing their bets.

Are North Carolina online sportsbooks offer bonuses?

Yes! All the major sportsbooks offer attractive bonus packages, including bonus bets, deposit matches, and more. Pre-registration offers were a big hit in NC and now even bigger bonuses are available.

Do I have to pay taxes on my sports betting winnings?

Yes, the House Bill states that all sports betting winnings in North Carolina are taxable regardless of the amount won or if it's a one-time or ongoing event. The taxes will be included as a personal income tax and subject to the 4.75% tax rate. This isn't too bad compared to other states that are as high as 50% for big winners.

What sports can I bet on in North Carolina?

North Carolina's law states that all traditional professional and collegiate sports and esports and international events are fair game. You should be able to bet on most major sporting events without any issues.

Can I bet on college sports in NC?

Yes, you can bet on college sports, including the Tar Heels and Wolfpack teams in North Carolina. Unlike a few other states that prohibit in-state betting on collegiate teams, North Carolina law allows for betting on all college sports.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

There are no major restrictions to report. As in most states though, all bettors must be at least 21 years of age.

What payment methods can I use for sports betting?

The most common payment methods used for online sports betting include credit/debit cards, e-wallets, prepaid cards, PayNearMe, and bank transfers. Each online sportsbook app will have a whole host of solid options for depositing and withdrawing funds.

21+ to wager. Please Gamble Responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-877-770-7867(CO), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA), Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI). Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

Chris Lollis

Chris Lollis is a sports betting expert that has covered the industry for more than a decade. Over that time he has covered everything from the repeal of PASPA to the state-by-state legislative changes. Chris serves as the Head of Content at EatWatchBet, and is responsible for tracking latest news and updates from every U.S. sportsbook.

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