North Carolina Sports Betting
Online sports betting is legal in North Carolina.
Eight online sportsbooks launched in North Carolina on March 11th, 2024, with the Lottery Commission’s approval.
Licensed North Carolina sports betting sites accept customers 21 or older and may offer wagers on professional and college sports, certain amateur leagues, and esports competitions.
Three retail sportsbooks at tribal casinos also offer in-person wagering in North Carolina. The first North Carolina sportsbooks opened in 2021 and professional sports venues are set to open additional locations under the latest law.
Legal North Carolina Betting Sites
Bet $5 Get $150Bet365 Bonus Code: BETUSAGambling problem? Call or Text 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-GAMBLER (AZ/CO/IA/IN/LA/NC/NJ/OH/PA/VA) 21+, (KY) 18+. New Customer Offer Bet $5 and Get $150 in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.
$1500 In Bonus BetsBetMGM Bonus Code: BUSABONUS
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (available in the US). Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA). 21+ only. Please gamble responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800- 981-0023 (PR). First bet offer for new customers only. Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for terms. US $1500 promotional offer not available in New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
Bet $5 Get $150FanDuel Promo Code: Not Needed
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelporg (MD). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 21+ (18+ D.C) and present in select states (for KS, in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino). First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. After 3 month free trial, the full price of League Pass will be automatically charged monthly; cancel anytime. No refunds. Terms, restrictions, and embargoes apply. Limit 1 pass per customer. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Call 1-888-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT) or visit FanDuel.com/RG.
$1000 Bonus BetCaesars Sportsbook Promo Code: BUSA1000
Must be 21 or older and physically present in AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, or WY. New users only. Must register using eligible promo code. First bet after registration must qualify. Max. Bonus Bet: $1,000. Bonus Bet expires 14 days after receipt. Void where prohibited. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Know When To Stop Before You Start®. Gambling Problem? CO, IL, KY, MD, MI, NJ, OH, TN, VA, WV, WY, KS (Affiliated with Kansas Crossing Casino), LA (Licensed through Horseshoe Bossier City and Harrah’s New Orleans), ME (Licensed through the Mi’kmaq Nation, Penobscot Nation, and Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, federally recognized tribes located in the State of Maine), NC (Licensed through Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise), PA (Affiliated with Harrah’s Philadelphia): If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) or MD: visit mdgamblinghelp.org or WV: visit 1800gambler.net; AZ: Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP; IN: Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT; IA: Call 1-800-BETSOFF. ©2024, Caesars Entertainment
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
MA: CALL 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org
NY: Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369)
Up to $1000 in Bonus BetsFanatics Sportsbook Promo Code: Not Needed
Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
(CO/DC/IL/KS/KY/LA/MD/OH/MI/NC/NJ/PA/TN/VA/VT/WV/WY), (800)-327-5050 or //gamblinghelplinema.org (MA), Call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), (888) 789-7777 or //ccpg.org (CT), or 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), or 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), or www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), or morethanagame.nc.gov (NC), or 1800gambler.net (WV)
21+ and present in NC. Gambling Problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov
Here are the key things to know about the North Carolina online sports betting market:
- Fans must be 21 or older to bet online in North Carolina
- Eight sports betting apps are open for business
- The NC Lottery Commission may approve up to 12 online sportsbooks in total
- Licensed betting sites may accept wagers on professional, collegiate, and amateur sports plus approved esports leagues
North Carolina Sports Betting Apps
North Carolina bettors have eight online sportsbooks to choose from today, and the may approve up to four additional operators:
- Bet365 Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- Caesars Sportsbook
- Fanatics Sportsbook
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- ESPN Bet
- Underdog Sports
North Carolina Sports Betting Bonuses
Licensed betting sites in North Carolina offer welcome bonuses as incentives for bettors to sign up for accounts, deposit funds, and bet on sports.
The most common types of betting bonuses bettors will encounter in North Carolina include:
- Bet and Get Bonuses: New customers receive bonus bets when they sign up and place their first cash wager. Sportsbooks often use phrasing like “bet $5 and get $100 in bonus bets.”
- Second Chance Bets: New users who sign up, place a wager, and lose receive 100% refunds paid as bonus bets.
- First Deposit Bonuses: Bettors receive bonus funds upon completing their first deposit. The size of the first deposit usually determines the size of the bonus. New customer deposit bonuses are becoming increasingly uncommon in the US online betting market.
North Carolina Sportsbook Promo Codes
| Online Sportsbook | Promo Code | Bonus Offer |
|---|---|---|
| Bet365 North Carolina Bonus Code | BETUSA | Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets |
| BetMGM North Carolina Bonus Code | BUSABONUS | Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets |
| Caesars Sportsbook North Carolina Promo Code | BUSA1000 | Up to $1,000 Bonus Bet |
| FanDuel North Carolina Promo Code | Not Needed | Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets If You Win |
| Fanatics Sportsbook North Carolina Promo Code | Not Needed | Bet and Get up to $1,000 in Bonus Bets |
| DraftKings North Carolina Promo Code | Not Needed | Bet $5, Get $250 in Bonus Bets |
| ESPN Bet North Carolina Promo Code | Not Needed | $1,000 First Bet Reset |
Although the extent to which any particular offer benefits bettors can vary significantly, nearly all North Carolina betting bonuses provide value to some degree.
That’s partially a natural result of the competitive nature of the legal US betting industry, but state regulations also play a role.
North Carolina Sports Betting Promotion Regulations
North Carolina regulations require operators to offer fair bonuses and describe them accurately.
In part, Rule 1E-003 requires NC betting sites to:
- Describe all betting bonuses and promos with complete, accurate, concise, transparent, and non-misleading language
- Never advertise sports betting promos as “free” if customers must risk or lose money or if there are any conditions attached to customers’ own money
- Never advertise promos as “risk-free” if customers must incur a loss or risk money to withdraw the winnings from such offers
- Provide clear and conspicuous methods for customers to cancel bonuses
- Never limit the winnings customers can earn with a bonus once they have met its terms
North Carolina Sports Betting Deposits
North Carolina regulators have approved a wide range of deposit methods to cover every realistic use case the average bettor may have.
As a result, most online sportsbooks in North Carolina support everyday payment methods like debit cards and physical cash, mobile platforms like Venmo, and various online banking solutions.
NC Lottery Commission regulations specifically authorize the following betting deposit methods:
- Credit cards and debit cards
- Electronic funds transfers
- ACH transfers
- Online and mobile payment systems (e.g., Apple Pay and PayPal)
- Reloadable, nontransferable prepaid cards (e.g., Play+ Card)
- Cash (e.g., PayNearMe)
- Cash equivalents converted to cash
- Any other method approved by the Commission
State law also authorizes operators to accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The definition of “cash equivalent” (an approved deposit method) found in includes “digital, crypto, and virtual currency.”
However, there are not yet any betting sites in North Carolina that accept Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the complexities involved in accepting cryptocurrency deposits while managing exchange risk (volatility) and complying with federal Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) laws.
North Carolina Sports Betting Locations
North Carolina has three retail sportsbooks, one at each of the state’s two Cherokee casinos in the western portion of the state and another at Catawba Two Kings Casino near Charlotte:
In addition, the law allows up to eight more retail sportsbooks at professional sports venues that host teams from the MLB, MLS, NBA, NF, NHL, NWSL, motorsport facilities that host more than one annual NASCAR race, and golf courses that host a professional tournament attracts more than 50,000 spectators.
Under those criteria, some of the venues that qualify to apply for North Carolina retail sportsbook licenses include:
- Spectrum Center, home of the Charlotte Hornets
- Bank of America Stadium, home of the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC
- PNC Arena, home of the Carolina Hurricanes
- WakeMed Soccer Park, home of the NC Courage
- Charlotte Motor Speedway
- North Wilkesboro Speedway
- Quail Hollow Club
- Sedgefield Country Club
North Carolina Sports Betting Timeline
North Carolina legalized sports betting in July 2019 after Governor Roy Cooper signed off on Senate Bill 154.
was fairly limited in scope as it categorized sports and horse racing betting as forms of Class III gaming, which is allowed at tribal casinos.
Essentially, the approved retail sportsbooks at three casinos:
- Harrah’s Cherokee Hotel and Casino in Cherokee
- Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel in Murphy
- Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort in Cleveland County
The bill did not legalize online sports betting, but was a big step forward for North Carolina which has historically opposed all types of gambling expansions.
Bill co-sponsor Jim Davis urged the House to approve the bill while acknowledging the lingering skepticism regarding any expansion of gambling in North Carolina:
“We’re not asking you this morning to legalize sports betting,” he said. “We’re simply asking you to add this to the list of games that are allowed [at the casinos].”
Shortly after the North Carolina sports betting bill was signed into law, Harrah’s Regional VP of Marketing Brian Saunooke both sportsbooks would be up and running by Fall 2019.
“By late fall, football will be in full swing,” he said at the time. “That’s an exciting time for sports bettors in general. We will be looking at other sports as well. We expect to have a full offering similar to what you would have in other markets, like Las Vegas.”
However, the launch of legal sports betting in North Carolina was slower than expected.
Implementation hinged on the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians amending their gaming compact with the state to authorize sportsbooks at their casinos.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs signed off on in early March 2021, and the state’s first sportsbooks launched shortly thereafter.
That same year, lawmakers introduced to authorize sports betting apps in North Carolina. The bill passed a full Senate vote in August 2021 and carried over into 2022.
Companion legislation introduced in 2022 made significant amendments to SB 688. However, the bills , ending North Carolina’s online sports betting prospects for the year.
Lawmakers took up the effort again in 2023 via HB 347, a measure that resembled the previous year’s legislation.
This time, the bill passed full House and Senate votes and went to Governor Roy Cooper’s desk for his signature to officially legalize online sports betting in North Carolina.
North Carolina Sports Betting Law
North Carolina legalized online sports betting and retail sportsbooks in June 2023 via .
The law tasks the North Carolina Lottery Commission with regulating sports betting, adopting additional regulations to implement the law, and issuing licenses to qualified operators.
While state law provides the basic outline for legal sports betting in North Carolina, regulations adopted by the Lottery Commission cover specific issues ranging from licensing conditions to data retention requirements.
Readers can see the law and its accompanying regulations in full:
The bulk of North Carolina’s sports betting rules concern topics primarily of interest to operators, but below are some of the paraphrased highlights that impact bettors.
North Carolina Daily Fantasy Sports Apps
Play $5, Get $50PrizePicks Promo Code: BUSA
19+, T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.800gambler.org. If you are in Arizona, call the toll-free Arizona statewide helpline at 1-800-NEXTSTEP or text NEXT-STEP to 53342. You may also visit problemgambling.az.gov.
North Carolina lawmakers have considered legislation to officially legalize fantasy sports, tax operators, and implement consumer protection regulations but turned their focus to sports betting before they could get a DFS bill across the finish line.
As a result, fantasy sports contests exist in a legal gray zone under North Carolina law. State gambling laws neither authorize nor prohibit fantasy sports operators from serving residents and offering real-money contests, so all major fantasy sports companies accept North Carolina residents.
Read more about fantasy sports in North Carolina here:
North Carolina Horse Racing Betting
Horse racing betting is legal and regulated in North Carolina, thanks to laws approved in 2019 and 2023. However, fans do not yet have the opportunity to bet on horse races in North Carolina.
The 2019 law authorized tribal casinos to accept wagers in-person, but none of them offer simulcast wagering at this time.
Similarly, none of the nation’s prominent online racebooks are active in North Carolina, although local regulators have stated they intend to begin issuing advance deposit wagering licenses sometime in 2024.
Fans can read more about horse racing betting in North Carolina and get the latest updates below:
North Carolina Online Gambling
35 Free Sweepstakes CoinsWOW Vegas Promo Code: None Needed
No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. 18+, T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Online casinos and poker sites are not legal in North Carolina, but Sweepstakes casinos offer a close alternative.
North Carolina is unlikely to expand legal online gambling options any time soon.
Even live poker is rare in North Carolina. It wasn’t until 2012 that the state authorized casinos to host live poker games and tournaments. Currently, Harrah’s Cherokee casinos are the only legal poker rooms in the entire state.
The same applies to online gambling in North Carolina and lawmakers have made no efforts to pass legislation to authorize online casinos or poker sites.
North Carolina Online Lottery
North Carolina sold its first lottery ticket in 2006 and now operates major draw games such as Powerball and Mega Millions, instant win scratch cards, and keno.
The North Carolina Online Lottery sells tickets to multistate and local drawings but does not offer instant win games.
State residents 18 and older can buy the following games online at NCLottery.com or through the official mobile app:
- Powerball
- Mega Millions
- Lucky for Life
- Cash 5
The North Carolina Lottery the idea of offering instant win games online in 2017 but relented amid strong opposition from the NC Retail Merchants Association and anti-gaming groups such as the NC Family Policy Council.
The North Carolina Retail Merchants Association opposed the idea out of fear online sales would hurt retail sales while the Family Policy Council warned of the dangers of allowing people to play online from their mobile devices.
North Carolina Gambling Laws
North Carolina gambling laws take the approach of barring everything except for what is specifically authorized. of the State Statutes lays it out in plain text:
Except as provided in Chapter 18C of the General Statutes or in Part 2 of this Article, any person organization that operates any game of chance or any person who plays at or bets on any game of chance at which any money, property or other thing of value is bet, whether the same be in stake or not, shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. This section shall not apply to a person who plays at or bets on any lottery game being lawfully conducted in any state.
Only two tribal casinos are authorized to operate games of chance in the state. These are the in Cherokee, NC and ’s Cherokee Valley River in Murphy.
The one located in Cherokee is the biggest of the two with a 150,000 square foot gaming area complete with video poker, slot machines, table games, and poker.
The resort also has a 1,108 room casino, spa, 11 restaurants, a golf club, and a night club.
Apart from that, North Carolina doesn’t offer much in the way of betting. State Statue § 14-309.20 outlaws greyhound racing and the only horse racing tracks do not allow parimutuel wagering. The state also has no exception for home poker games.
Online gambling isn’t specifically mentioned in any of North Carolina’s gaming laws, but the broad language of the law leaves little doubt as to the legality of placing wagers with any entity not authorized to offer gambling.
North Carolina Sports Betting FAQ
Wes Burns has more than a decade’s worth of experience as a writer, researcher and analyst in the legal gambling industry and is co-founder of ycgts.shop. As a former professional online poker player, Wes approaches his work from the viewpoint of players.