North Carolina Sports Betting Becomes Legal March 11

Place your wager on these sports betting apps launching next week.

The buzz around sports betting has been building for months, and it’s just about time to place your wagers. Almost a full year after the bill was introduced, online sports betting is entering the playing field in North Carolina at noon on March 11—aka just in time for March Madness.

As of March 11, NC residents can preregister, create accounts and make deposits, with some sportsbooks baiting bettors to sign up before the launch with raffles and rewards. For instance, Fanatics is offering a free hat and entry into its $250 FanCash Frenzy Sweepstakes for anyone who makes a $100 deposit, and FanDuel is offering to match 100% of your first deposit up to $100.

Note you don’t just have to wager on the outcome of the game to gamble. Proposition betting allows users to bet on everything from who will score the first touchdown to the color of the gatorade the winning coach will be doused with (really). That said, most regular season games will offer prop bets on player stats and penalties, but larger championship games like the Super Bowl will allow sports gamblers to go ham on myriad markets.

The North Carolina State Lottery Commission has so far issued eight interactive sports wagering operator licenses ahead of the launch. The commission received nine applications, with more expected to come as four entities—Carolina Panthers, Charlotte FC, NC Courage and North Wilkesboro Speedway—have yet to partner with a sportsbook.

As a quick refresh on the sports betting legislation: In order to launch, each sportsbook (with the exception of tribal casinos) must partner with a pro sports team (read: Carolina Hurricanes, Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Hornets, etc.), auto racing track, golf course, or a tournament or league along the likes of NASCAR or the PGA tour. Once partnered, operators must apply for a license to operate through the Lottery Commission.

Here’s where part of your paycheck will be going—er, which sports betting apps* can legally operate in NC. *As of press time