Mobile sports betting in North Carolina set to start after January 8th
Gotta Bet: Sports Wagering Apps Arrival in North Carolina Soon but Not by January 8
The thrilling world of legal sports betting is about to expand in North Carolina, with betting apps slated to launch, albeit not on January 8, as shared at a North Carolina Lottery Commission meeting on Tuesday.
The sports betting committee gathered for a morning discussion on mobile betting rules. They also hinted at a timeline, affirming that the January 8 launch wouldn't happen. By law, North Carolina's legal mobile sports betting market must be operational between January 8 and mid-June of 2024.
"Phew, thank goodness for the clarification that we won't be meeting daily now instead of weekly to get things done," Commissioner Cari Boyce remarked to Chairman Ripley Rand, acknowledging the relief of a less hectic schedule.
January 8 marks the much-anticipated college football national championship game. Other key dates include the Super Bowl on February 11 and the start of March Madness on March 19. However, it's uncertain whether betting apps will be accessible by any of these events.
Fantasy Games in the Spotlight
Proposed sports betting regulations for North Carolina featured language that seemed to disallow fantasy operators like Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks from offering pick'em-style fantasy games in the state. The proposed definition of fantasy sports contests included terms that would prevent any contest from being "based on proposition wagering or contests that involve, result in, or have the effect of mimicking proposition wagering or other forms of sports wagering."
However, this definition may be eliminated from the sports betting rules following pushback during the public comment period. The sports betting committee has expressed a desire to solely focus on sports betting regulations rather than delve into the ongoing debate about the legality of pick'em-style games. Other states, such as Michigan, have already banned these games.
The committee has promised to monitor how other states manage pick'em-style games and respond accordingly.
"Right now, our focus is on moving the rules forward, getting the operators licensed, and launching sports betting in an efficient and timely manner," said Billy Traurig, the lottery's chief legal officer.
Tuesday's discourse represents a victory for fantasy sports operators, even though the rules still need the full lottery commission's approval at Thursday's meeting.
The Betting Catalog Unveiled
North Carolina's catalog of betting markets, containing a typical array of options, was discussed during Tuesday's meeting. At present, esports are absent from the wagering choices, but that could change if an operator submits a petition for their inclusion.
The lottery commission is scheduled to discuss rule approvals and delve deeper into the betting catalog at their Thursday meeting. Additionally, a new website (ncgaming.gov) has been created to serve as a hub for information related to North Carolina's sports betting rules and regulations.
It's an exciting time for sports enthusiasts in North Carolina as they eagerly await the arrival of legally sanctioned betting apps! Just remember, always gamble responsibly and within the laws of your state.
- The sports betting committee in North Carolina has indicated that the launch of mobile sports betting apps will not occur on January 8, contrary to initial expectations.
- The proposed sports betting regulations in North Carolina seem to disallow fantasy operators like Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks from offering pick'em-style fantasy games, but this could change following pushback during the public comment period.
- The absence of esports in the current catalog of betting markets was discussed during Tuesday's meeting, and there's a possibility that esports could be included if an operator submits a petition for their inclusion.
- With the new sports betting regulations, North Carolinians can look forward to the arrival of legally sanctioned sports betting apps, while remembering to always gamble responsibly and within the laws of their state.
- Despite the uncertainty around the launch date for sports betting apps, the sports betting committee is focusing on moving the rules forward, getting the operators licensed, and launching sports betting in an efficient and timely manner.
