North Carolina Sports Betting May Launch By March Madness

North Carolina gamblers may soon be able to whip out a mobile phone to bet on the UNC Tar Heels or the Duke Blue Devils.

The state legalized sports betting in 2021, but only at retail locations. Last year, online betting was also legalized. There now appears to be at least some hope for a launch coming in the next two months with bettors able to wager on their favorite teams by the time the annual NCAA basketball tournament tips off.

“The idea is to try to get it in place before March Madness,” Gov. Roy Cooper® said last week. “There’s a lot going on at the Lottery Commission to make sure that that process goes the right way.”

Commission Continues Review Process

The law had Jan. 8 pegged as the date that mobile wagering could go live, but that hasn’t happened. So far, nine operators have applied for mobile betting licenses in the state. Additionally, five service providers have also applied for a license along with 20 from suppliers.

The Lottery Commission continues to review those applications and work on the regulatory process as well, including ensuring each company has proper internal controls in place, according to recent reports.

“We have been in contact informally with many of the operators about this … process,” North Carolina deputy executive director of gaming compliance and sports betting Sterl Carpenter said. “An operator’s ability to get to market is in its own hands once it gets a license. Only licensed operators with a certificate of compliance will be allowed to receive bets on apps on day 1.”

While the governor remains hopeful for betting this spring, an official date for launch has yet to be announced. And despite legalizing retail wagering, that has yet to launch either with no known date.

Sports betting continues to grow across the country with more two-thirds of states now allowing legal wagering. Some efforts are currently underway to bring betting to California and Vermont is expected to launch this month.

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