Will Online Casinos Launch in North Carolina After Online Sports Betting?
Online sports betting is coming soon to North Carolina, with regulators setting up the industry as we speak. It is expected that services will start no later than June 2024. The online sports betting sector will be big business for the Tar Heel state, and gamblers are wondering if online casino gaming will be on the table next.
Moving Towards Online Services
Governor Roy Cooper signed HB 347 into law in June 2023, legalizing sports betting via the online sector. That same month, the North Carolina State Lottery Commission began implementing the new law and setting up a website with updates for the public.
By November, online sports betting brands began announcing deals with major sports teams to launch services. The Charlotte Hornets will work with Bet365, while Penn announced a deal with Quail Hollow Club and its ESPN BET brand.
Operators must be partnered with a sports team, arena, or PGA course to apply for online sports betting licensing in the state. In December 2023, Fanatics Sportsbook announced a deal with the Carolina Hurricanes, and sports betting companies began applying for licensing. Companies on the list include BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, and more.
This month, the North Carolina Lottery Commission approved two procedures to move the process along. Internal control submission requirements were introduced, and a certificate of compliance can now be obtained.
The state is steadily working towards licensing operators and offering services. It may still be weeks or months before the new industry is up and running.
What Does This Mean for Online Casino Gaming?
As the online sports betting industry is setting up, lawmakers have also considered legalizing more physical casinos, and online gaming is being discussed. A proposal to bring four more land-based casinos across the state is on the table as part of a plan to create entertainment districts. The goal is to promote tourism in rural areas.
Additional gaming options would include video lottery terminals installed statewide, and online casinos are also being brought up as part of the discussion. Sports Betting Alliance Vice President Scott Ward stated late last year that online gaming is an appropriate next step in the gambling industry.
The alliance consists of companies like BetMGM, FanDuel, Fanatics, and DraftKings that already offer online casino gaming and sports betting in several states. Ward pointed out that consumers are moving online, and North Carolina could earn upwards of $300 million annually, citing the performance of iGaming in other states.
North Carolina Accessing Offshore Casino Operators Instead
It remains unclear whether lawmakers in North Carolina will push iGaming legislation in 2024, but if sports betting is successful online, we may see proposals introduced later in the year. In the meantime, gamblers in North Carolina can still access offshore online casinos in the state, with several well-reviewed and trusted brands available.
Recommended Online Casino for North Carolina
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