North Carolina Sports Betting Sets Launch Date for March 11

After months of delays, North Carolina sports betting finally has a launch date. The North Carolina Lottery Commission (NCLC) voted unanimously to make Monday, March 11, the official launch date for the sports betting industry. Online sportsbooks will be able to go live at noon that day, allowing North Carolina bettors to go live.

Sports betting was legalized in June 2023 with the goal of launching in January 2024, but that was not the case. Regulators have taken their time creating the rules for the new industry, looking to avoid some of the mistakes other states have made.

The date meets a goal set by Governor Roy Cooper, who had shared he was hoping to have the industry live ahead of March Madness.

"The plan approved today means that North Carolinians will be able to place bets on their favorite teams in many of this year's college basketball conference tournaments, including men's tournaments in the ACC, Conference USA, the MEAC, and the AAC, as well as throughout the men's and women's NCAA tournaments," said NCLC Chair Ripley Rand. "Bets on sporting events have been made for as long as those events have taken place, but this time they will be legal, they will be done securely and fairly, and they will be made under rules designed to encourage responsible gaming."

Seven Online Operators Set for Launch

Seven online operators have applied for licenses in the state and partnered with local pro sports organizations. DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics, ESPN Bet, BetMGM, bet365, and Underdog Sports are expected to all go live on March 11, giving North Carolina bettors a range of options.

In addition to the seven operators, The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Catawba Nation have also applied for operating licenses. When approved, they will likely partner with third-party operators. The tribes are not required to partner with a North Carolina pro sports organization.