Eight sports betting operators are still in the process of getting approval to provide online wagering in North Carolina with less than 30 days from a launch date.
During a North Carolina Sports Betting Committee meeting on Monday, members said eight sports wagering operators are moving towards licensure.
“Our licensing update has eight operator applicants moving towards licensure by March 11,” said Sterl Carpenter, deputy executive director of gaming compliance and sports betting. “Currently, we have approved seven provisional supplier licenses.”
The plan is to have sports bettors in North Carolina begin registering with online sportsbooks starting March 1, but they will have to wait until 12:00 p.m. on March 11 to place their first bet.
During Monday’s meeting, the committee also reviewed the state’s voluntary self-exclusion program, three compliance forms, and discussed the state’s tribal entities becoming licensed sports wagering operators.
Carpenter told committee members that specialists have been assigned to work with operator applicants to review and address items needed for compliance to launch sports wagering.
“They’re all moving towards checking off several of these items within the next two weeks,” Carpenter said. “We hope to have all of them done and they hope to be able to be allowed to meet that March 1 deadline.”
Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program
The state’s Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program is an option for anyone who may want to take a break from sports wagering. Self-excluded individuals will be removed from sportsbook-targeted advertising and marketing and unable to place bets.
By enrolling, the program allows members of the public to choose to opt out of sports and parimutuel wagering (horse racing). The person not only agrees to refrain from sports and parimutuel wagering but their information will be securely provided to all North Carolina licensed operators who will use reasonable means to exclude them from their website and wagering facilities.
“Importantly, we will have enrollment for this program open and available to those who wish to sign up before sports wagering commencing March 11,” Carpenter said.
Tribal Gaming Enterprise Agreement
North Carolina currently has three casinos operating in the state by tribes:
- Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise in Cherokee
- Catawba Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain
- Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River in Murphy
Catawba Two Kings Casino already has a partnership with Caesars Sportsbook to obtain an online sports betting license in North Carolina.
Carpenter presented a Tribal Gaming Enterprise Agreement to the committee on Monday for their approval.
Commissioner Lindsey Griffin questioned how confusing it could be for the public to place a sports wager on tribal lands that are not regulated by the state. Griffin asked if the state’s rules on sports betting apply on tribal lands.
“No,” Carpenter responded. He explained North Carolina would only deal with anything off tribal land.
“Anything on their tribal land is governed by them,” Carpenter said. “So, this is setting forth anything that is in North Carolina that is outside of their reservation. They currently do operate in-person sportsbooks at their reservation, and they can offer wagers on their tribal lands, which we do not regulate. We will only regulate anything that takes place off of their land.”
North Carolina legalized online sports wagering in June 2023 when Governor Roy Cooper signed House Bill 347.
