The Tar Heel State is home to just three land based casinos – which explains why online casinos in North Carolina are hugely popular. NC online casinos let you play throughout the state and beyond while enjoying slots, live dealer games, and significant bonuses.
You can quickly get started with our favorite gaming sites below, including some that we’ll review later.
Welcome Bonus Pack: 111% Match Bonus + $111 Free Chips
Credit Card Bonus up to $5,000 + 200 Free Spins
Top North Carolina Online Casinos Compared
Each online gambling NC site can differ from the next in terms of game selection, live dealer gaming, and other offerings (e.g., sports betting). Let’s look at how the best online casinos in North Carolina compare across several important categories.
| Casino | Number of Games | Sign-Up Speed | Sportsbook | Live Casino | Crypto Support |
| Wild Casino | 1200+ | 2-3 minutes | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| BetWhale | 800+ | 2-3 minutes | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Bovada | 200+ | 2-4 minutes | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Black Lotus | 340+ | 2-4 minutes | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Raging Bull | 200+ | 2-4 minutes | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| CoinCasino | 4000+ | 3-6 minutes | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Lucky Creek | 200+ | 3-6 minutes | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Lucky Red | 200+ | 3-6 minutes | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| BETUS | 300+ | 2-3 minutes | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| BetOnline | 500+ | 2-3 minutes | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Three of Our Top Online Casinos in North Carolina Reviewed
We want to explain what made us choose Wild, BetWhale, and Raging Bull from the top online casinos for NC players. The following reviews highlight what makes these some of the best online casinos in North Carolina.
1. Wild Casino – Best Overall Online Casino in North Carolina
Wild Casino lands in our top spot on the strength of its 1,200+ games, 20+ banking methods, and 250% up to $1,000 signup bonus. We also find this online NC casino easy to use thanks to its simple design and clearly marked sections.
2. BetWhale Casino – Wide Selection of NC Live Casino Games
We came away impressed with the BetWhale live dealer casino due to its 27 unique games and 75 tables. This site also has dozens of progressive jackpots and a solid specialty games section. If you’re interested in sports betting, BetWhale features plenty of markets and bet types.
3. Raging Bull Slots – Top Online Casino Rewards in North Carolina
Raging Bull has the best VIP program of any online casino for NC players. It starts you off with deposit bonuses, free chips, free spins, and 4% cashback. Other Advantages to Raging Bull Casino include its tournament lineup, user-friendly website, and 250% up to $2,500 bonus.
Is Online Gambling Legal in NC?
NC online sports betting became legal in June 2023, after HB 347 passed both houses and received Gov. Roy Cooper’s signature. This legislation allows for up to 12 online sportsbooks and three retail locations.
So, is online gambling legal in NC in any other form? State politicians haven’t approved other major types of NC online gambling. And the best offshore online casinos have filled this void for 30 years with no legal challenges.
| Form of NC Online Gambling | Legal Status | Minimum Age |
| Online casinos | Gray area | 21 |
| Sports betting | Legal | 21 |
| Online poker | Gray area | 21 |
| Sweepstakes & social casinos | Legal | 18 |
| Horse racing | Legal | 18 |
| Daily fantasy sports | Legal | 18 |
| Online lottery | Legal | 18 |
When Will Online Gambling Be Legal in North Carolina?
We’ve seen little legal action on the North Carolina online gambling front since sports betting passed in 2023. The legislature has discussed a licensed NC online casino market, but no action has yet been taken.
Based on this limited interest, we don’t expect an iGaming bill to pass for at least 3-5 years. In the meantime, you can easily access safe offshore online casinos in North Carolina.
Options for Legal Online Gambling in NC
No state-licensed North Carolina online casinos are available, but you do have other safe options. Let’s go over offshore and sweepstakes casinos and how they’re good alternatives until an iGaming bill passes.
Offshore Casinos
An offshore casino is legal and licensed in a jurisdiction outside the US. For example, some offshore gaming sites that serve this state have licensing with Gaming Control Anjouan.
Many of these offshore, VPN friendly online casinos provide safe and legit operations. They even hold certain advantages over licensed gaming sites in other states, like larger welcome bonuses, more promotions, and crypto banking methods.
NC politicians and authorities have never seemed too bothered by offshore gaming sites. This situation is similar to most other states, like Oregon online casinos, for example, which freely run without the Beaver State’s official approval.
Sweepstakes Casinos in North Carolina
These casinos operate legally in the Tar Heel State through the sweepstakes model. They give you an opportunity to win cash prizes without technically risking anything.
The standard sweepstakes casino in North Carolina sells you Gold Coins, which have no monetary value and are only for entertainment. They’ll include free Sweeps Coins that you can risk to win cash prizes.
NC sweepstakes games online look and feel similar to the slots and table games at offshore casinos. The only difference is that they don’t directly let you win real money.
Bonuses at Online Casinos in North Carolina
Most online casinos in North Carolina feature a variety of top casino bonus offers. You can see what’s available and important points to consider when chasing these offers below.
Welcome Bonuses
Just about every online casino in North Carolina features an attractive welcome bonus to draw new signups. For example, an online casino NC might match your first deposit by 200% up to $1,000.
Here comes the tricky part: what terms do you have to meet before withdrawing winnings? Common terms include wagering requirements (rollover), max bets, eligible games, and expiration dates.
Rollover is especially important because it determines how much you’ll need to wager before cashing out a bonus. We prefer 30x (bonus + deposit) wagering requirements or lower, but up to 40x (b+d) is still a good deal. A $20 min deposit at the casino is usually required to activate the sign up bonus.
You can see info on top online gambling NC bonuses below.
| Casino | Bonus Amount | Promo Code | Wagering Requirement | Min. Deposit | Eligible Games | Expiry Date |
| Wild Casino | Up to $5,000 + 125 Spins
Up to $9,000 via Crypto |
WILD250 + WILD100
CRYPTO300 + CRYPTO150 |
40x | $20 | Slots, Table Games and Video Poker | 30 days |
| BetWhale | $1,250 | N/A | 30x | $30 | Slots, Table Games | 30 days |
| Bovada | $3,750 (Crypto) | 1st: BTCCWB1250
2nd & 3rd: BTC2NDCWB |
25x (1st deposit)
50x (2nd & 3rd deposit) |
N/A | All – except Craps and Live Dealer Games | N/A |
| Black Lotus | $6,000 | 200BLACK | 60x | $20 | All | 30 days |
| Raging Bull | £2,500 | MIGHTY250 | 10x | $30 | Slots, Keno, Bingo, Scratch Cards | 30 days |
| CoinCasino | $30,000 + 50 Super Spins | N/A | x60 (200% bonus) x35 (free spins) |
$10 | All | 30 days |
| Lucky Creek | $7500 + 30 Free Spins on Big Game | 200GETLUCKY | 60x | $20 | All – except Game Features on Slots | N/A |
| Lucky Red | $4000 | LUCKYRED400 | 50x | $35 | Slots, Keno and Scratch Cards, Excludes All Network Progressives | 60 days |
| BETUS | $5,000 (one of many offers) | CAS200 | 50x | $50 | All – except Live Dealer Games | 7 days |
| BetOnline | $3,000 | N/A | 50x | $50 | Slots, Table Games, Video Poker | 30 days |
Reload Bonuses
A reload bonus is like a welcome offer—just smaller and for existing players. An example would be a 75% match up to $300.
The same type of terms will apply to reload offers, like wagering requirements, max wagers, and game eligibility. Some casinos give you a break with lower rollover (e.g. 25x) since these bonuses are smaller.
This is not limited to North Carolina, and you may find this promotion available in other US states, for example, casinos online in Illinois.
Free Spins
If you’re interested in North Carolina online slots, then free spins are for you. They let you play one or more NC online slots without having to risk your bankroll.
Free spins can either be part of a welcome bonus (e.g. 100% up to $500 + 50 FS) or a standalone offer. An example of the latter would be you depositing $30+ and getting 100 free spins.
You’ll usually need to meet 30x-40x wagering requirements on winnings. Watch out for short expirations because many free spins bonuses expire in seven days or less.
Cashback
Cashback softens a bad gaming session by returning part of your losses. A common offer at an online casino in North Carolina is 10% cashback on weekly losses.
If you lost $200 under this deal, for example, you’d receive $20. This amount might not sound like much, but it’s better than losing the entire $200.
Sometimes the cashback comes with wagering requirements. For instance, you may have to meet a 5x rollover on the $20 before it’s officially yours.
No Deposit Bonus
An NC online casino no deposit bonus gives you free spins or cash just for registering. For example, you might sign up and collect $20. You’ll be able to withdraw winnings from the bonus after meeting the terms.
These deals sound great because they don’t require any financial risk. But you’ll have difficulty finding NC online casino no deposit bonuses because they’re rare.
Another problem is the terms—particularly wagering requirements. We’ve seen some no deposit offers with upwards of 60x rollover.
A good alternative are low deposit casinos, at some of these sites you deposit $10 and get a bonus still.
VIP Program
A loyalty program opens you up to a whole new set of rewards beyond promotions. Common perks from North Carolina online casino VIP programs include:
- Cashback
- Deposit bonuses
- Free chips
- Free spins
- Birthday gifts
- Special tournament tickets
- Dedicated support
- Prioritized withdrawals
The amount and quality of rewards you receive depends on your loyalty status. You won’t get the best offers at the lowest tier, but you’ll be treated like an online casino NC king or queen at the highest level.
Best Online Casino in North Carolina for Bonuses
Black Lotus is the top online casino in North Carolina for promotions based on our research. Its 200% up to $7,000 bonus is an obvious reason why, but our reasoning goes beyond a gaudy welcome offer.
This gaming site features the most unique promotions in the Old North State, including live dealer casino cashback, contests for free spins, holiday gifts, and prize drawings. We even see where Black Lotus is giving away a Tesla car.
Wild Casino runs a close second to Black Lotus in terms of NC online casino bonuses. It provides a 10% weekly loss rebate, giveaways, reload bonuses, and crypto offers.
Most Popular Games for Online Gambling in NC
Casinos get better and better at game variety with each passing year. The result is that you can enjoy all the different NC online casino game types covered below.
Slots
No traditional North Carolina slots exist because tribal casinos offer Class II gaming—a.k.a. slot machines with bingo-generated results. That said, NC online slots are your best bet for enjoying the real deal.
Thousands of North Carolina online slots are available across the offshore industry. If you have trouble sorting through this massive variety, start with some of our favorite high-paying real money slots listed below. Or you can give online penny slots a try if you like to start with smaller bets.
| Slot | Provider | RTP | Where to Play |
| Book of 99 | Relax Gaming | 99.0% | TG.Casino |
| Gold Rush Gus | Rival Gaming | 98.48% | BetWhale |
| Catfather | Pragmatic Play | 98.1% | DisCasino |
| Good Girl Bad Girl | Betsoft | 97.79% | BetOnline Casino |
| Merge Up | BGaming | 97.25% | Wild Casino |
Blackjack
A long-time fan-favorite, classic online blackjack has the lowest house edge of any table game. With simple rules and wide betting limits, it’s an excellent option whether you’re a casual player or high roller.
As one of the most popular North Carolina online casino games, blackjack is available in many variations. You can see some notable variants at offshore NC casinos in the following table.
| Game | Provider | RTP | Where to Play |
| Single deck | FlipLuck | 99.66% | Wild Casino |
| Single deck | Betsoft | 99.55% | BetOnline |
| Perfect Pair & 21+3 | Dragon Gaming | 99.5% | Wild Casino |
Roulette
Roulette is another highly popular table game at online casinos in North Carolina. Its common forms are American, European, and French, with the latter offering 98.65% RTP on even-money bets (e.g. red/black).
You can see good spots to play online roulette in this state below.
| Game | Provider | RTP | Where to Play |
| French roulette | Evoplay | 98.65% | TG.Casino |
| European roulette | Nucleus Gaming | 97.3% | Black Lotus |
| European roulette | Betsoft | 97.3% | BetWhale |
Other Table Games
Many other table games are available in the North Carolina online gambling market, such as online casino baccarat, Caribbean poker, craps, Let ‘Em Ride, Teen Patti, and three-card poker. Kentucky casino sites – a nearby state – also offer additional table games if you’re looking for something outside the blackjack and roulette variants, similar to North Carolina.
The following online table games are among the highest paying.
| Game | Provider | RTP | Where to Play |
| Baccarat | Nucleus Gaming | 98.94% | BETUS |
| Craps | Betsoft | 98.64% | BetWhale |
| Three-card poker | FlipLuck | 97.99% | BetOnline |
Video Poker
Despite feeling like an old Atari game, video poker still finds virtual space in the North Carolina online casino market. It remains popular due to its strategy and high RTP on certain variations.
9/6 Jacks or Better—that is 9 coins for a full house and 6 for a flush—is the ideal variant due to its simple gameplay and 99.54% RTP. Other notable NC online video poker games include Bonus poker, Double Joker Poker, Deuces Wild, and Joker Poker.
Live Dealer Games
If you can’t make it to the state’s remotely located tribal casinos, then live dealer gaming is a fine substitute.
North Carolina live casino games let you play baccarat, blackjack, roulette, and more while chatting up a real dealer. You’ll also enjoy the sights and sounds of authentic land-based casino studios.
Specialty
Specialty categories are like the hot dogs of NC casinos online for real money because they contain all the spare parts of a game selection.
You’ll find bingo, crash games, keno, and scratchcards in specialty areas. Crash is especially notable because it’s one of the state’s fastest-rising online game niches.
Best Online Casino in North Carolina for Games
Wild Casino boasts the top game selection in NC online gambling. It features over 1,200 games, including more than 1,100 slots.
Wild also has the best North Carolina live dealer casino we’ve reviewed thanks to 27 games and 75 total tables. Other categories here include blackjack, video poker, table games, and specialty.
North Carolina Online Casino Banking Options
You’ll need reliable payment methods once you decide to deposit at an NC casino online and play for real money. Here is what’s available in the Tar Heel State, including the advantages and downsides of each method.
Credit/Debit Cards
Credit and debit cards like Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover let you fund your online NC casino account instantly.
The drawbacks include some casinos charging deposit fees and issuing banks often rejecting your deposits.
✅ Fastest way to deposit at an online casino in North Carolina
❌ Subject to potential deposit fees & high rejection rates
Crypto
Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin are the fastest options to withdraw money from NC gaming sites. They don’t involve third parties either, making it impossible for anybody to reject your deposits.
So what would keep you from the best Bitcoin casinos? Our only problem is that you could lose funds by sending them to the wrong wallet address—although nobody on our staff has had this issue.
✅ Fast withdrawals and no deposit rejections
❌ Could lose gambling funds by entering the wrong address
Bank Wire
Some offshore NC casinos let you cash out via bank wire, which is nice if you like reliable, traditional payment options.
Normally we’d appreciate bank wires, but offshore casinos charge withdrawal fees worth $25-$50.
✅ Reliable and secure payment method.
❌ Fees reaching up to $50
eWallets
Trusted digital wallets like Neteller, PayPal, and Apple Pay let you quickly deposit and withdraw casino winnings with the utmost security.
But there’s one catch…you can’t use eWallets when it comes to the online casino North Carolina market. We see Paypal available at BetWhale, but that’s for international players.
✅ Secure, trusted, and fast for casino withdrawals
❌ Not available for North Carolina online casino players
What is the Best NC Casino App?
CoinPoker has the only NC casino app among the offshore gaming sites we’ve reviewed. You can download the CoinPoker app via its website for Android (mobile), Windows or macOS (desktop).
Just click on the link below that leads you to the CoinCasino homepage, and there’s a link on the bottom left to download the CoinPoker app, which gives you access to all the sports and casino offerings.
We downloaded and tested it on an Android and found the gameplay smooth. The app layout was also nice, with games, banking methods, and support being easy to locate.
For good measure, CoinCasino is among the best online casinos for fast payouts, often processing withdrawal requests in a few hours.
As for other online casinos for NC players, they all provide browser-based mobile play. So you can still enjoy top offshore gaming sites through a smartphone or tablet.
Land-based Casinos in North Carolina
The NC brick-and-mortar casino industry is limited to three options in the western part of the state. These casinos offer over 4,600 casino games combined, although this number isn’t nearly enough to serve casino players among the state’s 10.85 million residents.
You can see info on these casinos below, including where they’re at, available games, and online access.
| Casino Name | City | Games Available | Website |
| Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort | Kings Mountain, NC | 500+ | https://www.twokingscasino.com/casino |
| Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort | Cherokee, NC | 1,000+ | https://www.caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee |
| Harrah’s Cherokee River Valley Casino & Hotel | Murphy, NC | 3,100+ | https://www.caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee-valley-river |
Taxes at North Carolina Casinos
This state has weird and unfavorable gambling laws that tax gross winnings without letting you deduct losses. If you win $100,000 and lose $95,000, for example, you’ll pay the state’s 4.5% flat income tax rate on the $100k—not your $5k net profit.
Federal tax laws make more sense because you pay a flat 24% rate on net winnings rather than gross wins.
Online casinos serving North Carolina don’t report your winnings to the IRS or local tax authorities. So it’s up to you to report profits earned at offshore gaming sites.
Responsible Gambling in North Carolina
Our recommended online casino options for NC players have responsible gaming sections that provide tips and resources. Examples of the latter include Gamblers Anonymous and the NC Problem Gambling Program.
The best North Carolina online casinos also feature player protection tools, such as deposit limits, time limits, cooling-off periods, and self-exclusion.
Best Online Casino in North Carolina – Final Thoughts
Plenty of quality offshore casinos are available in this state. Our favorite is Wild Casino because it has lots of games, frequent promotions, 20+ banking methods, and a strong reputation.
Other contenders for the top online casino in North Carolina include BetWhale, Raging Bull and Black Lotus.
The state legislature doesn’t appear close to regulating online gaming, so offshore casinos will remain your best options.
We’re fine with this because most offshore operators have large game selections, significant bonuses, and crypto banking methods.
Online Casinos North Carolina FAQs
Are online casinos legal in North Carolina?
Where in NC can you gamble?
What is the legal gambling age in North Carolina?
Who regulates online gambling in North Carolina?
What online casino games can I play in NC?
Can I play NC online slots?
Is there an online casino in North Carolina with no deposit bonus?
Sources
- https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2023/h347 (HB 347 – Legal online sports betting)
- https://gamingcontrolanjouan.org (Gaming Control Anjouan)
- https://ncgaming.gov/responsible-gaming (Gamblers Anonymous)
- https://ncgaming.gov/responsible-gaming (NC Problem Gambling Program)