As the year unfolds, North Carolina’s betting scene is set to explode, with eight licensed, top-tier operators moving into the space and picking up some profitable partnerships. It’s expected that things will start to heat up by March Madness, with betting sites and apps going live as 2024 unravels. In recent weeks, we’ve heard about these partnerships between betting operators and some highly recognisable brands, showing that there’s buy-in in the Tar Heel state where betting is concerned.
North Carolina’s state government will impose an 18% tax on sportsbooks operating in the region. When the NC House Bill 347 was passed and online and mobile sports betting were legalised, several key criteria were outlined. For instance, up to twelve operators are permitted to work in the state – and at present, eight of those have already gotten started. Furthermore, the bill saw the legalisation of all college sports betting and horse racing events.
North Star
There are high expectations for North Carolina’s betting scene. It was revealed that some of the biggest operators in the United States have made their way into the region in preparation for the ‘go-live’ of mobile and online sports betting:
- Bet365
- BetMGM
- Caesars
- DraftKings
- ESPN Bet
- Fanatics
- FanDuel
- Underdog
Moving into 2024, almost all of these operators have announced their ‘market access’ partnerships, some of which are hugely prolific. For instance, it was recently revealed that DraftKings had partnered with NASCAR to introduce a historic sports betting experience to the state. Elsewhere, Bet365 partnered with the Charlotte Hornets, BetMGM joined forces with the Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Fanatics joined up with the Carolina Hurricanes.
FanDuel picked the PGA Tour as a partner, and ESPN Bet (through PENN Sports Interactive) joined with the Quail Hollow golf club.
On the topic of the NASCAR partnership with DraftKings, the MD of Sports Betting at NASCAR, Joe Solosky, said:
‘DraftKings has a proven track record of enhancing the fan experience across sports, we are thrilled to continue working with DraftKings to deliver NASCAR fans more engagement opportunities and bring its leading mobile sportsbook to North Carolina.’
It’s expected that North Carolina will open its doors to mobile and online betting applications in the coming weeks and that an influx of bettors will follow. This marks the latest step in an ongoing journey for the United States, and by 2024, almost every state has kicked off sports betting practices.
