North Carolina Moves Closer to Online Sports Betting: What You Need to Know, Promos and More

Mobile sports betting in North Carolina took a major leap towards becoming a fully regulated and legal industry and could be live in the state as early as 2024.

When Will North Carolina Legalize Sports Betting?

Back in March, the North Carolina state House of Representatives first introduced legislation to bring sports betting to the state, but it took until this past week for the bill to make its way through the Senate, which passed HB-347 on its second reading.

The Senate will have to vote a second time on the bill before it returns to the House and once again pass with the approval of any amendments made by the Senate.

All signs point to North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper officially signing the bill into law once it reaches his desk as he has been a proponent of bringing the industry to the state.

RELATED: Vermont Moves Closer to Sports Betting

Recently, we took a status check of every state that has yet to legalize sports betting. At that time, North Carolina was one of several states that had legislation in progress but yet to be approved. This latest update marks a big step in that process, and if all goes as hoped, you’ll have to venture further south into South Carolina to find a state without betting legislation; every New England and East Coast state will have adopted some form of regulated sports betting, with the exception of Georgia and the aforementioned South Carolina.

North Carolina was a bit of a unique circumstance; the state has already had brick-and-mortar retail sportsbooks operational since 2021, so this latest push is strictly centered on mobile gaming. Having an in-place industry gives the state an advantage over others that don’t already have their toe in the water, like California and Texas.

RELATED: Best Bets for Today in All Sports

North Carolina Eyeing a 2024 Launch

If all goes according to plan, the bill will pass and make its way to Governor Cooper. If that happens, North Carolina can begin reviewing and accepting applications from sportsbooks in the state.

An official signing could put the state on track to get sportsbooks operational by January 2024, almost one year after the bill was initially proposed. This would be huge for the state as it would allow them to capitalize on the end of the College Football season, as well as the NFL Playoffs and of course, the Super Bowl.

Up to eight additional locations could open a sportsbook on-premises, including PNC Arena, home of the Carolina Panthers and Spectrum Center, home of the Hornet. Specifically, stadiums with 17,000 seat capacity will be eligible to do so.

MORE: 3 Things to Know Before Betting on Sports

With up to 12 sportsbook licenses expected to be available, expect some notable names like DraftKings, BetMGM and FanDuel to make their way into the mix, as well as plenty of room for smaller books.

Some notable details of the bill include:

• The state will be able to issue up to 12 individual licenses
• If all eight eligible sports facilities partner with a book, there will be four total licenses left over for non-partnered sportsbooks

By the start of 2025, there could be just eleven states left without some form of regulated sports betting. It’s a great time to be alive and a sports fan.

How to Sign Up for Sports Betting in North Carolina

If you live in North Carolina, you’ll want to take advantage of every promotional offer possible when the books go live. At Dimers, one of our main objectives is to find the best promotions for you so you can gain a little extra edge.

There’s no better way to get started on betting than with some house money, so make sure you check out our Best Sportsbooks page for details on how you can capitalize on those offers like these:

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Don’t forget most books also offer referral bonuses! Every friend you get to sign up often comes with some extra cash for you!

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While we strive to provide accurate and insightful betting advice, we always recommend that our users exercise caution and conduct their own research before using our daily betting picks or any other betting advice, as ultimately, it's up to each individual to make informed decisions that align with their personal values and goals. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.