DraftKings finally has its partnership lined up in North Carolina to become one of the initial operators when legal sports betting begins this year in the Tar Heel State.
The online sportsbook and long-time partner NASCAR announced on Friday the two sides came together for terms on a written designation agreement for DraftKings to operate in North Carolina, pending license and state approvals.
“DraftKings and NASCAR have collaborated closely with each other over the years, sharing a like-minded commitment to enhancing the fan experience,” Matt Kalish, president of DraftKings North America, said in a statement. “We look forward to the next chapter in our journey together and offering our leading mobile sportsbook to fans in the state of North Carolina.”
DraftKings is one of the first seven sportsbook operators to have already applied for an operating license when North Carolina sports betting begins.
The DraftKings/NASCAR deal joins a host of other partnerships in the Tar Heel State in deals that essentially guarantee they'll be operating when sports betting begins.
BetMGM recently announced a partnership with Charlotte Motor Speedway, one of the eight venues allowed by state law to partner with a sportsbook for sponsorship and in-person betting.
FanDuel is going to operate alongside its PGA Tour partnership while bet365 already has signage displayed in its deal with the Charlotte Hornets. Fanatics landed an agreement with the Carolina Hurricanes while ESPN BET signed a deal with Quail Hollow Golf Club.
Growing the brand
DraftKings, along with FanDuel, currently dominate markets in North America. It’s also the daily fantasy provider for NASCAR.
“DraftKings has a proven track record of enhancing the fan experience across sports,” Joe Solosky, NASCAR managing director of sports betting, said. “We are thrilled to continue working with DraftKings to deliver NASCAR fans more engagement opportunities and bring its leading mobile sportsbook to North Carolina.”
When will DraftKings launch in N.C.?
DraftKings goes live in Vermont on Jan. 11, and with the addition of access to the North Carolina market in 2024, the online sportsbook will be active in 27 U.S. states.
Exactly when that’ll happen is still up in the air. The North Carolina Lottery’s sports betting committee said earlier this week that a launch date is in the hands of operators getting their approval process complete enough to get wagering started.
The commission will have a meeting on Jan. 10 when a go-live date could be closer to being announced.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper signed a sports betting law in June 2023 with Jan. 8 being the legal date for online sports betting. However, the commission has already said it’ll be after the February Super Bowl because of the licensing and compliance process.
The hope is to have DraftKings and other sportsbooks active by March Madness when Charlotte’s Spectrum Center hosts the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament.
Currently, the only sports betting allowed in North Carolina is at three tribal casinos.
