North Carolina's Mobile Gambling Debut Postponed Until After the Super Bowl
In the world of sports, North Carolina is set to join the league of states offering legal mobile sports betting. However, the exact start date for this exciting venture remains uncertain due to variables in the process.
The North Carolina State Lottery Commission, responsible for overseeing the state's gambling operations, plays a crucial role in this development. The commission requires its approval for any operator to enter the mobile sports betting market in the state.
Despite the uncertainties, Ripley Rand, the chairman of the lottery, has expressed optimism about announcing a date for the launch of sports betting in North Carolina in the near future.
Contrary to some reports, legal mobile sports betting in North Carolina has already commenced. The official start date for mobile sports betting was March 11, 2024, following the enactment of necessary legislation on June 14, 2023. This process involved several steps, including the approval of sports betting rules by the commission and the launch of operations by licensed sportsbooks such as FanDuel, Caesars, BetMGM, and DraftKings.
As of the current status, eight online operators are actively offering a range of sports betting services in the state.
The earliest possible start date allowed by the legislation is early January 2024, but the commission is not yet ready for sports betting apps to launch then. Once approved, an operator will receive more information from the commission on a go-live plan.
The commission and its staff have a year from the passage of the sports betting law to get betting up and running. They are committed to doing so as soon as possible, but some key steps are dependent on the sports betting industry.
Application materials for mobile sports wagering operators will be published online and available to the public by early next week. Applicants will have about a month to put their materials together and send them to the commission after the materials are published online.
Sterl Carpenter, the lottery's deputy executive director of gaming compliance and sports betting, hopes to receive mobile sports wagering operator applications by Dec. 27. The commission will conduct background investigations on each applicant and has a 60-day window for the review of applications after they are submitted.
Unfortunately, North Carolina's sports betting will not be operational by the Super Bowl. The state's mobile sports betting market is expected to begin before mid-June 2024, according to the legislation.
Carpenter encourages operators to work on their internal controls to ensure compliance with the commission's sports betting rules during the application review process.
In conclusion, while the exact start date for sports betting in North Carolina remains uncertain, the process is underway, and enthusiasts can look forward to the thrill of legal mobile sports betting in the near future.
- The North Carolina State Lottery Commission, which is responsible for overseeing gambling operations in the state, requires its approval for any operator to enter the mobile sports betting market in North Carolina.
- Optimistic about announcing a launch date, Ripley Rand, the chairman of the lottery, expects to announce a date for the start of sports betting in North Carolina in the near future, although it is not expected to be operational by the Super Bowl.
