Sports Betting Prep Work Begins for North Carolina Regulator

H.B. 347 was signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper on June 14, which gives the lottery commission a window from Jan. 8, 2024, to June 14, 2024, to launch online wagering.

Geoff Zochodne - Senior News Analyst at Covers.com
Geoff Zochodne • Senior News Analyst
Jun 19, 2023 • 13:41 ET • 2 min read
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The North Carolina State Lottery Commission is starting its work to bring legal online sports betting sites to the Tar Heel State.

Under the recently passed and signed House Bill 347, the lottery commission will oversee the incoming version of North Carolina sports betting

The commission announced Friday that it has begun planning and working to implement the new law, starting with a designated web page the public can consult for updates about the process.

“Many people want to know when North Carolina will begin permitting legal sports betting,” said Ripley Rand, chair of the commission, in a press release. “The Commission and staff take these responsibilities seriously and are committed to ensuring the job is done in a complete, professional, transparent, and timely manner. We will keep the public up to date about when these programs will launch.”

Looking for a special someone (to regulate sports betting)

H.B. 347 was signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper on June 14, which gives the lottery commission a window from Jan. 8, 2024, to June 14, 2024, to launch online wagering. 

North Carolina already has legal sports betting at three tribal casinos. However, the new landscape for sports betting in the state could include as many as 12 operators of mobile sites and apps and retail sportsbooks at or near professional sports venues. 

The lottery commission said Friday it started a national search for “an experienced senior leader” to run its new programs for wagering on sports and horse racing. The regulator needs to hire additional staff, draft its regulations, and prepare applications and other forms for licensees before it can start accepting bids. 

“No timetable outlining expected dates for application submissions and the granting of licenses is available at this time,” the press release noted. “No commission meetings regarding sports betting are scheduled at this time.”

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Geoff Zochodne, Covers Sports Betting Journalist
Senior News Analyst

Geoff has been writing about the legalization and regulation of sports betting in Canada and the United States for more than three years. His work has included coverage of launches in New York, Ohio, and Ontario, numerous court proceedings, and the decriminalization of single-game wagering by Canadian lawmakers. As an expert on the growing online gambling industry in North America, Geoff has appeared on and been cited by publications and networks such as Axios, TSN Radio, and VSiN. Prior to joining Covers, he spent 10 years as a journalist reporting on business and politics, including a stint at the Ontario legislature. More recently, Geoff’s work has focused on the pending launch of a competitive iGaming market in Alberta, the evolution of major companies within the gambling industry, and efforts by U.S. state regulators to rein in offshore activity and college player prop betting.

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