Legal sports betting operators aching to get into North Carolina are going to have to team up with pro sports teams, sports venues, or NASCAR or PGA Tour to go live in 2024.
According to WRAL’s Brian Murphy on Tuesday, the Tar Heel State’s legislature is looking to pass a $30 billion budget that includes a significant change from the original online sports betting licensing process.
North Carolina's sports betting law hasn't even been implemented and already some big changes are being proposed. New proposed budget includes "technical changes" that would drastically alter how operators get their licenses. #ncpol #sportsbettingtwitter https://t.co/ba9YNmiGcq
— Brian Murphy (@murphsturph) September 19, 2023
When the law was passed in June, it called for no more than 12 sportsbook operators allowed in North Carolina. However, the new budget says licenses will be granted to “sports wagering operators who have a written designation agreement." This would give teams like the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets or NFL’s Carolina Panthers, venues like the PNC Arena, or NASCAR racetracks more power in how sports betting operates in the Tar Heel State.
It’s unknown if the allowed designations can exceed the original 12 licensed operators, but according to the report, each team, venue, track, or course will be allowed just one partnership with an operator, and the retail sportsbook must be on-site at the facility.
Looking to 2024
North Carolina is still months away from determining how sports betting will work within the state.
Right now, no one even knows when. The law calls for wagering to begin no earlier than January 8, 2023, and no later than June 15, 2023.
The North Carolina Lottery, which is commissioned by the law to oversee the licensing process, has yet to begin accepting applications. That early start date seems difficult to reach, but North Carolina, a basketball-heavy state, could certainly be eyeing a March Madness debut.
Online sports betting coming
The long process of legalizing sports betting in North Carolina came to a close on June 14 when Gov. Roy Cooper signed the bill into law.
Currently, in-person wagering at three tribal casinos is the only way to bet on sports in the Tar Heel State.
That will change once the licensing process is complete. North Carolina will offer professional and college sports as well as Olympics, eSports, and horse racing via online and retail sportsbooks at eight state-approved venues.
PNC Arena, home of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, is already preparing for a sportsbook under its renovation plans
