North Carolina Legalizes Sports Betting: Here’s What to Know

Author ImageAuthor: | Last Updated: January 2024
Casino Sportsbook on the Left and the Welcome to North Carolina Sign on the Right with a Legalized Stamp in the Center

North Carolina online sports betting is the next step for gambling in the Tarheel State. Some casinos already offer retail sports betting in North Carolina. Before more brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, though, the focus will be on increasing access to online betting options.

Bettors in the Tarheel State will not have to wait long for changes to come, either. There is no deadline currently in place for when new online sportsbooks will be available. However, changes are expected to come after Super Bowl 58 and before March Madness.

The good news is that there are already North Carolina online sports betting options available. Keep reading to learn more about the latest updates for sports betting in NC and changes you can expect in 2024.

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North Carolina Sports Betting Goes Live

North Carolina is one of the latest states to jump on the online sports betting bandwagon. Here is a closer look at how the latest North Carolina sports betting laws came to be.

When Did the North Carolina Sports Betting Bill Pass?

Dozens of states have changed their gambling laws in recent years to allow for regulated sports betting. Lawmakers in the Tarheel State finally joined the movement in 2023 with the passing of NC House Bill 347.

This bill was sponsored by Rep. Jason Saine, a Republican who represents NC’s 9th district. Saine has been a member of the NC House of Representatives since he was first elected in 2011.

Under the original bill, there could be 12 sportsbooks allowed to be set up in the Tar Heel State. However, the regulations have changed, and now sportsbooks must partner with one of the 11 pro sports teams, golf courses, or racetracks in the state. NC House Bill 347 was passed in June and signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper on June 14th.

What Is the Start Date for NC Sports Betting?

The NC state legislature passed its sports betting bill last summer, but many bettors are not yet able to access state-licensed sportsbooks. That is because online and mobile betting options from state-regulated sportsbooks are not yet available.

There are some retail sports betting options already available in NC. However, the state is not planning to build new in-person sportsbooks until after it launches online sites.

The focus will be on launching state-licensed online and mobile betting sites instead. There is no date set for when these betting options will become available. However, the hope is to have sites up and running before the start of the NCAA tournament in March.

Which Sports Can You Bet on in North Carolina?

Many states that have changed their regulations in sports gambling have put limitations on what sports fans can bet on. For instance, Delaware does not allow betting on college sports teams based in the First State at in-state sportsbooks.

North Carolina has no such restrictions. So, you can wager on the Tar Heels, the Wolf Pack, and any other NC-based teams.

Football, wrestling, basketball, boxing, hockey, MMA, and baseball are among the most popular sports you can wager on in North Carolina.

NC Sports Betting Taxes

One of the biggest driving forces behind legalizing sportsbooks in many states is the potential for tax revenue. NC sports betting laws require sportsbooks to pay a tax of 18% on their revenue. Sportsbooks also have to pay a $1 million dollar licensing fee.

Bettors also have to pay taxes on their sports betting winnings. You have to pay a flat tax of 5.25% on your gambling winnings in the Tarheel State. Also, you have to report any winnings totaling over $600 to the IRS on your federal tax filings.

Best North Carolina Online Sports Betting Sites

NC has yet to launch any state-regulated sports betting sites. Luckily, sports fans can already access offshore betting sites. Here are five North Carolina online sports betting sites that are already available in the Tarheel State.

BetUS

One of the best options for online sports betting in the US is BetUS. This sportsbook is available in all 50 states, so NC bettors can sign up and join in on the action at any time. This sportsbook is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024, so it has plenty of experience in accepting online sports bets.

BetUS offers competitive betting odds on dozens of sports, including college basketball, professional football, and the NHL. The sidebar menu makes it super easy to navigate the sports betting section, too. Members can take advantage of the awesome customer service department as well, which includes a 24/7 live chat feature.

If you sign up at BetUS, then you can elect to accept a great sports betting welcome bonus. The standard welcome bonus is a 100% deposit match worth up to $2,500 and has a 10x rollover. If you sign up with this bonus during the 30th-anniversary celebration, then you may also be eligible for a chance to win one of two new trucks.

Bovada

Another great option for NC sports betting is Bovada Sportsbook. Like BetUS, this sportsbook has over a decade of experience in the online sports betting world. So, you can take advantage of all the benefits of an experienced operator if you sign up at this sportsbook.

Bovada has a lot of betting tools that make it easy to customize your betting ticket. For example, it has a great prop builder that offers dozens of special bets for every game. You can also make a unique betting ticket using this sportsbook’s parlay builder.

You have plenty of bonuses available at Bovada as well. The welcome bonus is only worth up to $750, but there are plenty of other bonus options to choose from. Bovada’s VIP program offers a lot of great rewards, too.

BetOnline

BetOnline is also a fantastic option for betting on sports in North Carolina. This sportsbook launched in 2001 and offers betting odds on plenty of NC-based sports teams and horse races. You have a ton of bonuses to choose from, as well as a VIP program with plenty of great prizes.

One of the best parts of betting with BetOnline is all of the banking options that you can choose from. There are nearly two dozen banking methods available, including over a dozen different cryptocurrencies. You can deposit with many popular cryptos, including Bitcoin, and take advantage of unique bonuses.

There are many crypto-exclusive bonuses available for NC bettors at BetOnline. Also, there are improved maximum and minimum deposits and payout speeds with crypto. BetOnline also allows bettors in the Tarheel State to bank with credit cards, money orders, wire transfers, and more.

BetNow

North Carolina bettors can also bet on all of their favorite sports at BetNow. This is a relatively young betting site compared to the other sites on this list, as it only launched in 2016. Still, BetNow has nearly a decade more experience than any of the stat-regulated sports betting sites in NC launching later this year.

This sportsbook is loaded with great features, including flexible welcome bonuses that give you more control over your bonus funds. Also, there are great sports betting contests for NC bettors to participate in. For example, BetNow offers an annual $1,000,000 March Madness betting contest.

BetNow has plenty of other features that you would expect from a top sports betting site, too. The customer support at this NC betting site is top-notch. There are great banking options available for NC bettors as well, including major credit cards and crypto.

MyBookie

Rounding out my list of the top North Carolina online sports betting sites is MyBookie. This sportsbook launched in 2014 and has been one of the top NC betting sites for the last decade. Members of this betting site have a ton of great features to help them be more successful.

One of the best parts of MyBookie is the ability to watch live games. This allows you to keep up with the latest action and track your bets as the game unfolds. Also, you can bet on the games you are watching using MyBookie’s live betting odds.

There are other great tools available at MyBookie, such as the prop wager builder. This sportsbook has great bonuses for NC bettors as well, and has regular betting contests, too. All of these features allow you to have more control over your experience and give you a chance to win tons of money from betting on sports in North Carolina.

What Is Next for North Carolina Sports Betting Laws?

NC lawmakers voted in 2023 to allow regulated sports betting, and state-licensed sites are expected to launch in 2024. Bettors can already take advantage of online betting with offshore North Carolina online sports betting sites. Check out the list above to see where to bet and learn what to expect for the future of sports betting in NC.

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About the Author
Shaun Stack Editor

Shaun Stack is a senior writer at GamblingSites.org. His gambling articles have appeared in the Daily Herald, Space Coast Daily, and NJ 101.5. He’s a football betting expert, a Survivor fan, and a skilled blackjack gambler. Shaun is a native of Kansas City but now lives in Pennsylvania and follows the Pittsburgh Steelers religiously.

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