North Carolina to Launch Legal Sports Betting After Governor Signs Bill

Roy Cooper, the Governor of North Carolina, United States, has finally signed House Bill 347. Following this move, sports betting and horse racing wagering are now officially legal in The Old North State, with the state planning to launch the market by mid-June 2024. 

The state’s Lottery Commission will immediately start vetting and issuing 12 licenses to 12 sports betting sites. The law also allows up to eight venues to offer retail sports betting services. The venues include:

• Bank of America Stadium
• Spectrum Center
• Charlotte Motor Speedway
• Quail Hollow Country Club
• North Wilkesboro Speedway
• PNC Arena
• WakeMed Soccer Park
• Sedgefield Country Club

The law allows the state to regulate professional, amateur, and college sports betting and horse racing. 

Commenting after signing the bill into law, Governor Roy Cooper stated:

"This legislation will help North Carolina compete, make sure taxpayers receive a share, create many good-paying jobs and foster strong economic opportunity. As we move forward, we should work to make sure more of the revenue is used to invest in our public schools, teachers and students. It will benefit taxpayers by giving them a portion of the earnings."

The Governor added:

"Sports wagering is already happening in our state. Surrounding states here and across the country are already taking advantage. This legislation allows the state of North Carolina to regulate it and to put safeguards on it, as well as provide funding for helping people with problem gambling."  

At the bill signing, Governor Cooper was in the company of representatives from professional sports teams and organizations, including:

• Charlotte Hornets
• Carolina Panthers
• Carolina Hurricanes
• Charlotte Football Club
• NASCAR
• The PGA Tour

On June 7, 2023, North Carolina’s General Assembly passed House Bill 347 to pave the way for Governor Cooper to sign it into law. The signing now allows the North Carolina State Lottery Commission to control all sports betting activities within its jurisdiction. 

These licenses are renewable every five years, and prospective operators must apply for three different varieties. The services include: 

• Interactive sports wagering license
• Service provider license
• Sports wagering supplier license

The law allows North Carolina residents to bet on sports in in-person public venues or create an online account at any of the regulated sports betting sites. The operator must be sure that the person placing the wager is of legal age (21 or older).