North Carolina sports betting is open for business … sort of.
Eight licensed sportsbook operators in the Tar Heel State began allowing pre-registration at noon on Friday ahead of the March 11 online sports betting launch in one of the top 10 most populous U.S. markets.
Here’s a look at what customers in North Carolina can and can’t do on the first day of March:
What is pre-registration?
The North Carolina Lottery Commission created the March 1 date to allow approved sportsbooks to release their mobile apps for download in the Tar Heel State and allow customers to sign up for accounts. The operators’ websites are also active.
What information is needed to set up an account?
First, users have to be 21 years of age or older to wager. You’ll need your full name, address, and social security number or another way to prove your identity. Some sportsbooks may require more information.
Can I bet now?
Not online. Mobile sports betting does not go into effect for the next 10 days but just in time for the heart of March Madness. There are three tribal casinos that offer in-person wagering. Two are in Western North Carolina and another near the South Carolina border about 35 miles west of Charlotte.
Can I fund my account now and how?
Yes. One of the reasons the commission wanted to allow registration before the launch date is so customers can become familiar with the depositing options, which are available. Funding accounts could vary by sportsbook, but all will likely allow the credit card and debit card methods. Other options could be online deposits
What sportsbooks are offered in N.C.?
There are some already popular options that were approved Thursday to operate in the state. FanDuel and DraftKings own the two highest market shares in the U.S., and both will be very active in the Tar Heel State.
Other mobile sportsbooks include bet365, BetMGM and Caesars, which has a partnership with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians that run two in-person casinos.
ESPN BET became PENN Entertainment’s platform in November and will launch on March 11. Fanatics, which is best known as an online merchandise and memorabilia company, is another relative newcomer as it bought out PointsBet’s U.S. operations last year and is spreading to new markets.
Underdog, which has previously only operated as a daily fantasy sports site, is creating a traditional sportsbook with N.C. being its first market.
Is anybody else entering the market?
The only other operator so far to apply for an online license is Two Kings Catawba, which runs the third in-person tribal casino in N.C.
It has not partnered with a sports betting provider yet and won’t launch on March 11. However, the plan is to do so at a later date.
Why is it taking so long?
North Carolina’s legislature passed a sports betting bill last June, and Gov. Roy Cooper signed it into law a few days later, so it’s taken some time to work toward a launch. Aside from the lottery, N.C. didn’t have any other gaming infrastructure to build off of so it had to work from the ground up. While the state missed out on the revenue of the Super Bowl, Cooper emphasized starting in time for March Madness, which is a big deal in a basketball-centric state. Charlotte is a first and second-round NCAA site.
What can I bet on when it goes live?
North Carolina sports betting offers a robust catalog that includes major U.S. and college sports. Traditional wagers, parlays, teasers, and other betting methods will be offered. The Tar Heel State is allowing college player props, which has come under fire in Ohio and West Virginia.
Can I register for in-person sports betting at this time?
Not yet. North Carolina will offer retail sportsbooks at eight venues that will be under a tiered launch and start after online sports betting goes live.
