Statewide online sports betting isn’t technically supposed to start in North Carolina until March 11. There is a way, however, for residents 21 and older to get a preview of mobile wagering if they’re willing to get mobile themselves.
Caesars Entertainment Inc. announced Friday — the same day that registration for online sports betting in North Carolina began — that its Caesars Sportsbook is already accepting wagers in the Tar Heel State.
The catch is that if North Carolina residents want to gamble using the online wagering platform, they will have to be on the tribal lands of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, including the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel.
A good friend to have
That is because of the access Caesars has to the North Carolina sports betting market, which is through the tribe. Caesars has run brick-and-mortar sportsbooks at the tribe's two casinos since 2021, and it is partnered with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians for mobile wagering as well.
This is how Caesars can tout itself as “the first sportsbook to launch legalized mobile sports betting in the state of North Carolina,” which it did on Friday when the company’s competitors were still limited to accepting sign-ups and deposits.
“Made possible under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and through Caesars’ expanded relationship with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Caesars Sportsbook app is now exclusively accepting mobile sports bets at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, NC, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel in Murphy, NC and on surrounding Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians tribal lands,” a press release trumpeted.
Turns out you can legally engage in a little online sports betting already in North Carolina.
— Geoff Zochodne (@GeoffZochodne) March 1, 2024
You just have to be on Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians lands, where Caesars Sportsbook is now taking action with the help of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, the operator says: pic.twitter.com/2Z4hGhKkCG
Friday’s launch by Caesars, and the pre-registration efforts by it and its rivals, mark the opening acts of North Carolina’s statewide launch of online sports betting. Regulators have set March 11 as the date for mobile wagering to commence, and all of the biggest names in the industry are set to be there on the starting line.
Unless, of course, you’ve already got a head start, which is what Caesars has done. The unique status of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians means Caesars is not only taking bets already in-person at the casinos but now from people’s computers and phones, albeit in a limited geographic area.
Caesars is also registering customers for the broader launch on March 11 and says customers can even make cash deposits and withdrawals for the Caesars Sportsbook app at the two casinos.
“We’re thankful to be able to offer wagering at the Harrah’s Cherokee properties as part of our longstanding relationship with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and with the sports calendar heating up, there is a lot to be excited about,” said Eric Hession, president of Caesars Digital, in a press release. “Thank you to the National Indian Gaming Commission, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the North Carolina State Lottery Commission, and its Sports Betting Committee for making this day a possibility.”
The North Carolina State Lottery Commission issued eight online sports betting operator licenses on Thursday, including to the “Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise,” which is owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Caesars Sportsbook is licensed as a service provider in the state, as it takes action on behalf of the tribe.
“Over the years, the partnership between the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Caesars Entertainment has only flourished and strengthened,” said Michell Hicks, principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, in Friday’s release. “We eagerly anticipate the chance to introduce mobile sports betting to North Carolina, offering a fresh and new experience to all sports fans.”
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