If you want to know what the future Raleigh sportsbook could look like, look no further than Ohio. The Fanatics Sportsbook at Nationwide Arena that bowed in late August, home to the Columbus Blue Jackets, is similar to what Fanatics envisions for a potential PNC sportsbook. While no deal is final on the exact location, “Fanatics Sportsbook will bring a user-friendly experience for North Carolinians to wager on sports responsibly,” said Hurricanes President and General Manager Don Waddell upon the announcement, “and we’re proud to partner with them on this endeavor.” While wagering on the Super Bowl isn’t likely, Gov. Roy Cooper hopes to fast-track sports betting in time for The Big Dance. “The idea is to try to get it in place before March Madness,” Gov. Cooper said in mid-January. “There’s a lot going on at the Lottery Commission to make sure that process goes the right way.” Until then, check out “Wanna Bet?” for what we know—and which apps you’ll soon be able to pony up on.
Place your wager on these soon-to-launch sports betting apps.
With the announcement of Fanatics multiyear partnership with the Carolina Hurricanes and now the official target launch date of sports betting in North Carolina (March 11 at noon!), the buzz for sports betting in NC is at an all-time high. So far, nine sports betting platforms have applied for operator licensure from the NC Lottery Commission. In front of the official launch, we tapped the NC Lottery Commission with a few burning questions.
Is it legal to bet on sports in North Carolina on a website right now? No
Is it legal to bet on an app? No
Where will NCers be able to bet? Operators will be able to have mobile sports wagering on phones, computers and other devices and can choose to have a sportsbook or physical location. They could also just do mobile betting.
What will the rollout look like? The state plans to start first with sports wagering on mobile devices and then approve sportsbooks later. There is no deadline for sportsbooks to start. Sportsbooks are the physical locations where wagers can be done, but most sports wagering will occur on mobile devices.
Note: Hold your horses… while sports betting laws became effective in NC Jan. 8, you won’t see an option to wager on an app in-state until sports betting officially goes live in March.
App for That
Looking to pony up and make the next game a little more interesting? Betting apps with features ranging from odds to livestreaming are set to roll out in NC early 2024.
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 like NASCAR or the PGA tour. Once partnered, operators must apply for a license through the Lottery Commission. Some apps may have retail locations, but the Lottery Commission is focusing on getting online wagering up and running first. Here’s where part of your paycheck will be going—er, which sports betting apps are slated for NC.
