Two Additional Operators Vying for North Carolina Sports Betting Licenses

Dec 9, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Mark Mitchell (25) reacts to a missed shot during the second half against the Charlotte 49ers at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY SportsTwo additional operators, both North Carolina tribes, have applied for sports betting licensesNine total operators have applied for a sports betting licenseThe Catawba Two Kings Casino and Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise Cherokee are the two newest applicants

Two new operators have applied for a North Carolina sportsbook app license.

The Catawba Two Kings Casino and Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise Cherokee are the two newest applicants for a sports betting license in the Tar Heel State. Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise Cherokee will likely partner with Caesars Sportsbook to run its sports betting if it receives a license.

Nine total operators have applied for a sports betting license as the state rolls towards a yet-announced launch date.

Sterl Carpenter, Deputy Executive Director of Gaming Compliance and Sports Betting for the Lottery Commission, announced the two new applicants during today’s Lottery Commission meeting.

Tribes Currently Offer Retail Sports Betting

Both the Catawba Two Kings Casino and Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise Cherokee offer retail sports betting at their tribal casinos in the state. Caesars Sportsbook currently runs Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise Cherokee’s brick-and-mortar sportsbook and will likely take over its online sports betting services as well.

Neither applicant has announced its sports betting market access partner. Every applicant must have a valid partnership with either a North Carolina sports franchise, official sports organization (such as the PGA or NASCAR), arena, or PGA Tour golf course.

This new brings the total number of applicants up to nine in the Tar Heel State. The applicants and their market access partnerships are as follows:

bet365 in North Carolina: Charlotte HornetsBetMGM in North Carolina: Charlotte Motor SpeedwayDraftKings in North Carolina: NASCARFanatics Sportsbook: Carolina HurricanesFanDuel in North Carolina: PGA TourPENN Sports Interactive (ESPN BET in NC): Quail Hollow Club (PGA Tour course)Underdog Fantasy: No partnership announced

Launch Date Depending on Operators

Carpenter again stressed during today’s meeting that a launch date depends on how adept the applicants are at obtaining their certificates of compliance from the commission. The Lottery Commission set a date of Jan. 26 for the applicants to submit their internal controls, a key part of obtaining the certificate of compliance.

No sports betting licenses have been issued yet, but applicants can begin to work towards their certificate of compliance right now or wait to see if they are awarded a license by the commission.

The quicker the operators receive their certificates of compliance, the quicker online sports betting can begin in North Carolina. Carpenter noted that each of the applicants are well aware of this part of the process from becoming licensed in other states and have all likely started working on the necessary requirements.