North Carolina Sports Betting in 2023
North Carolina did not legalize online sports betting in 2022.
Two North Carolina online sports betting bills passed three committees in the 24 hours leading up to a June 22, 2022, vote on the House Floor — but lawmakers threw up a late stop sign, voting 51-50 in opposition of SB 688. North Carolina bettors will now have to wait until 2023, at the earliest, to place mobile wagers with the best sports betting sites in the U.S.
As with all other forms of gambling, North Carolina has been strict when it comes to sports wagering opportunities which remain limited to retail North Carolina sportsbooks only.
Keep reading for a detailed summary of everything you need to know about North Carolina sports betting.
- Population: 10.5 million
- Legal age for sports betting: 21
- Online sports betting: No
- Retail sportsbooks: Yes
- Sports betting revenue: N/A
North Carolina sports betting updates
Although retail North Carolina sports betting was legalized in July 2019, it wasn’t until March 18, 2021, that the state took its first legal wager. The currently available in-person experience continues to be a topic of intense debate, with the Eastern Band of Cherokee — the only tribe in the state with fully realized casinos — consistently standing in opposition to the Catawba tribe’s movement towards building its own gambling facility.
Online sports betting remains elusive in the Tar Heel State, though lawmakers nearly pushed two bills across the finish line in June 2022.
Read on to learn about critical moments in North Carolina sports betting history:
Jan. 12, 2023: The new year reignites hopes that legal sports betting will come to North Carolina in 2023. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger tells reporters that he thinks "the prospects are pretty good. We just have to see."
Sept. 6, 2022: A retail sportsbook opens at the temporary Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain.
Aug. 8, 2022: Despite North Carolina failing to legalize online sports betting in 2022, backers continue to push for change. Notably, the Carolina Hurricanes and Charlotte Hornets voice their support for both online NC sports betting and retail wagering in or near their respective arenas.
June 24, 2022: Two Kings Casino plans to open before the start of the 2022 NFL season.
June 22, 2022: A late push to legalize North Carolina online sports betting in 2022 falls apart. After removing college sports betting and passing SB 38 by a vote of 51-50 on the House floor, lawmakers vote against SB 688 by the same margin.
June 21, 2022: The two sports betting bills — SB 688 and SB 38 — pass through the House Judiciary 1 Committee by a 6-3 vote. Several steps still remain before either bill can become law.
June 20, 2022: NC sports betting bills SB 688 and an amended SB 38 will be put to a vote in the House on Tuesday, June 21.
June 17, 2022: The Senate tweaks SB 688 to increase licensing fees and the proposed tax rate. Now, operators seeking licenses would need to pay $1 million, and the tax rate, while unspecified, is expected to be north of 10%.
June 15, 2022: North Carolina sports betting proponents expect the House to pass a mobile sports wagering bill by the June 30 deadline. Still, tweaks to SB 688 and/or HB 361 are inevitable. Tax rates and licensing fees are among the wrinkles to be ironed out before a bill is sent to Gov. Roy Cooper.
June 2, 2022: The North Carolina House has yet to discuss the online NC sports betting bill. There are 28 days remaining in the 2022 legislative session.
May 25, 2022: With about a month left in the 2022 legislative session, North Carolina lawmakers hold firm that legal sports betting will be made available statewide. Sen. Paul Lowe notes that he feels "confident" SB 688 will pass.
May 5, 2022: With North Carolina's 2022 legislative session set to begin on May 18, 2022, stakeholders believe that SB 688 will pass and widespread legal sports betting will arrive.
April 21, 2022: The state Senate has approved a bill to legalize sports wagering, which goes to the House for consideration in May.
Feb. 18, 2022: DraftKings, during its Q4 earnings call, names North Carolina as a potential market for its online sportsbook, pending legal online sports wagering comes into law.
Feb. 15, 2022: Charlotte's first legal retail sportsbook may find a home at Catawba Two Kings Casino.
Jan. 4, 2022: Movement towards a lottery-controlled market is in the cards for 2022, but potentially limited to 10-12 mobile licenses.
Nov. 4, 2021: The House Commerce Committee approves SB 688 by a vote of 12-4, but the bill must pass through three more committees before it can be finalized. Rep. Jason Saine notes that it will likely be 2022 before more forward movement occurs.
Aug. 19, 2021: The North Carolina Senate passes SB 688 by a 26-19 vote, moving it on to the House.
July 2021: The Catawba tribe officially opens a pre-launch version of its Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain.
May 21, 2021: The Eastern Band of Cherokee appeals the decision of Judge Boasberg, which gave the Catawba Nation the green light to begin work on its Two Kings Casino.
April 16, 2021: Judge James A. Boasberg rules in favor of the Catawba Nation’s quest to build a casino in Kings Mountain.
April 7, 2021: Sens. Jim Perry and Paul Lowe file SB 688, which would, among other things, make mobile sports betting legal in the Tar Heel State.
March 25, 2021: The Catawba Nation secures federal approval of its gaming compact with the state.
March 18, 2021: The two Harrah’s casinos officially open their sportsbooks and begin taking the state’s first legal sports bets.
Feb. 25, 2021: The amended gaming compact between the Eastern Band of Cherokee and the state is approved by the federal government.
January 2021: Gov. Cooper controversially enters into a tribal-state compact with the Catawba Nation to allow various forms of gambling, including North Carolina sports betting, at its proposed casino in Kings Mountain.
March 17, 2020: The Eastern Band of Cherokee files a federal lawsuit against the decision to approve the Catawba Nation’s request to build its Two Kings Casino.
March 12, 2020: The U.S. Department of the Interior approves the Catawba tribe’s application to build a casino in Kings Mountain.
Dec. 11, 2020: Gov. Roy Cooper and the Eastern Band of Cherokee submit an amended gaming compact required by the arrival of the new NC sports betting law to the Department of the Interior for review.
July 26, 2019: Gov. Roy Cooper officially signs S 154 into law, legalizing sports betting in North Carolina. The law authorizes sports wagering on tribal lands, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee becomes the only eligible tribe to offer the practice.
May 2018: The U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) repeals the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), allowing individual states to create their own sports betting rules and regulations.
Is sports betting legal in North Carolina?
Yes, North Carolina sports betting is legal. NC officially legalized sports betting on July 26, 2019, after Gov. Roy Cooper signed S 154 into law.
Despite the early adoption of sports betting, Tar Heel State bettors weren’t able to place their first wagers until March 18, 2021, when the Eastern Band of Cherokee officially went live with North Carolina sportsbooks at two brick-and-mortar casinos.
In January 2021, the Catawba Nation and Gov. Roy Cooper entered a controversial tribal-state compact that would authorize the tribe to allow gambling at its planned Two Kings Casino, forecasting an eventual third retail location for sports bettors. On Sept. 6, 2022, a retail sportsbook opened at the temporary Two Kings Casino just in time for the 2022 NFL season.
North Carolina online sports betting nearly became a reality in 2022, but Senate Bill 688 failed to pass a House vote on June 22, 2022. Although amendments to the bill were agreed upon earlier in the day (SB 38), including the removal of all college sports betting, lawmakers balked at the idea of legalizing statewide mobile wagering.
Follow North Carolina’s and each state's progress with our sports betting legal tracker.
Latest North Carolina betting news
Who can bet on sports in North Carolina?
Residents who are 21 or older are eligible to bet on sports. They can go to one of two Harrah’s brick-and-mortar casinos or visit the temporary Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain.
Review these tips before placing your first sports bet in North Carolina.
Legal age
NC sports betting is reserved for individuals 21 and older.
Mobile betting
No form of legal mobile betting has been approved in North Carolina. The latest online sports betting bill, SB 688, came up short in a June 2022 House vote. Should North Carolina lawmakers pass a similar bill in 2023, sports bettors will be able to place wagers with legal North Carolina sports betting sites anywhere in the Tar Heel State.
Remote registration
Bettors will enjoy fully remote registration once online sports betting is legalized. It will not be mandatory for people within the state to sign up for or verify an online sportsbook account in person.
Within state borders
When statewide NC sports betting arrives, North Carolina sportsbooks will leverage geolocation tracking software to verify your location. You won’t have to be an NC resident, but you will have to be located physically within the state's borders to place bets.
Currently, the only legal wagers that can be placed are limited to tribal retail properties.
Retail sportsbooks
There are just three active, fully realized retail sportsbooks in North Carolina. Two are operated by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians — Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel. Additionally, the Catawba Nation tribe operates a sportsbook in the temporary version of its forthcoming Two Kings Casino.
Taxable winnings
In North Carolina, gambling can only occur at tribal casinos, and in exchange for this exclusive right, revenue-sharing payments are provided to the state. In 2023, winnings are subject to a 6% tax.
Crossing state lines: Nearby betting sites in 2023
Legal North Carolina sports betting has been possible since March 18, 2021. But until mobile wagering arrives, bettors may search for nearby neighborly options, such as Virginia and Tennessee. Both offer fully regulated and legalized mobile sports betting.
So long as you are physically located within those jurisdictions, you are free to register and place a sports bet. Online bettors can download one of the authorized mobile sports betting apps and begin betting.
The pros and cons of NC sports betting
The state of broadening the sports betting market in North Carolina is an ongoing battle. But the three existing retail locations are better than nothing.
With lawmakers advancing SB 38, and then subsequently killing SB 688, it's clear there is still work to be done if North Carolina is to legalize mobile sports betting in 2023.
Plenty of opposition to online wageringIn-person betting limited to three locationsCollege sports betting appears unlikelyHow to start betting in North Carolina
Senate Bill 688 called for as many as 12 North Carolina sports betting sites. If a similar proposal is brought forth in 2023, NC bettors could eventually have access to a plethora of sports wagering options. Until then, familiarize yourself with the general setup process.
Select a sportsbook
The list of approved operators beyond Caesars has yet to be finalized. Still, we're expecting to see more prominent industry players get a seat at the North Carolin sports betting table should mobile betting arrive.
Researching each feature and reading sportsbook reviews is vital. You'll want to identify which North Carolina betting sites best satisfy your wagering needs.
Register online
The pledge to eventually integrate remote registration means North Carolina sports bettors will have the ability to sign up with NC sportsbooks from anywhere in the state. All users will have to share their personal information, and identity verification checks will be required.
Claim a bonus
Online North Carolina sportsbooks should offer bettors plenty of promotions if and when they debut. The most common sportsbook sign-up bonuses, including risk-free bets, no-deposit bonuses, and deposit matches, should be on the way.
Deposit funds
Adding real money funds to your account before choosing any wagers is necessary.
Regulated NC sports betting sites will accept some combination of the best sportsbook deposit and withdrawal methods. Credit cards, debit cards, ACH transfers, pre-paid cards, and digital payment methods like PayPal are all popular in states with legal online wagering.
Choose your bet types
North Carolina bettors can expect to find the following popular bet types when legal online wagering arrives: moneylines, Over/Unders (totals), point spreads, parlays, teasers, futures, and live bets.
Start betting
Although there are merely three in-person options right now, new locations appear likely to arrive relatively soon. We always advise players to shop betting lines and compare odds before making a bet. North Carolina sports betting sites will not provide identical wagering opportunities, so it will be important to do your due diligence.
Withdraw funds
The speed at which you secure sports bet winnings is important. Review the sportsbook's terms and conditions and read third-party reviews to gauge their response times. Depending on the sportsbook or withdrawal method, you may incur fees on the transaction.
Reading the odds
North Carolina sportsbooks display American betting odds as the default selection.
You can spot favorites by looking for the minus sign (-), and the value that follows identifies the amount you must wager to win $100. In this example, -190 odds mean you need to risk $190 to win $100.
Look out for the plus sign (+) to identify underdogs, highlighting the amount you would win if you placed a $100 bet. For example, +110 odds indicate that a $100 wager would net $110 in profit.
We developed an odds converter to help you toggle between American, fractions, or decimals odds.
What you can't bet on in North Carolina
North Carolinians can wager at one of three tribal properties. All professional, college, and Olympic sports are feasible options.
Politics
It is not legal to wager on politics with North Carolina sportsbooks. Political bets are off the table in all states with legal sports betting.
Entertainment award ceremonies
Betting on awards shows, including the Oscars, is not permitted in NC.
What about North Carolina college sports?
The Tar Heel State allows college sports betting, including wagering on in-state collegiate teams, at its tribal casinos.
Notably, SB 38 would have banned all college sports betting in North Carolina, including wagers on out-of-state teams, so it remains to be seen if college betting markets will be available online at future North Carolina sports betting sites.
What about esports?
At present, you cannot bet on esports in North Carolina. However, SB 688 contained provisions that included esports as a viable wagering option.
Legal sportsbooks in North Carolina
With the addition of Catawba Two Kings Sportsbook, there are now three locations for retail sports betting in NC. The IGT-powered sportsbook joins Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel in Murphy as regulated sports betting locations in the Tar Heel State.
North Carolina's land-based sportsbooks
| Sportsbook | Venue | Address | Phone Number | Odds Provider |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catawba Two Kings Sportsbook | Two Kings Casino | 538 Kings Mountain Blvd, Kings Mountain, NC 28086 | (704)750-7777 | IGT |
| The Book | Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort | 777 Casino Dr., Cherokee, NC, 28719 | (828) 497-7777 | Caesars |
| The Book | Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel | 777 Casino Pkwy, Murphy, NC, 28906 | (828) 422-7777 | Caesars |
Home team advantage: NC sports
North Carolinians have a storied history of supporting their hometown teams. Making informed and well-researched bets is an excellent way to eliminate bias, and blindly backing the home team can wind up damaging your bankroll.
Our how to bet guides provide actionable insights for new and intermediate bettors.
Other types of gambling
North Carolina is not one of the more gambling-friendly states. Beyond the few tribal casinos, the only other options for legal gaming are the state lottery, charitable gaming, and bingo.
Casino
Three tribal casinos operate in North Carolina. Two locations are run by the Eastern Band of Cherokee, while The Catawba tribe has also opened a preliminary, temporary version of its forthcoming Two Kings Casino. Plenty of traditional table games and slots can be found at all of these locations.
Real money online casino games have not been legalized in North Carolina.
Poker
The only legal way for players to partake in poker games is to visit one of the state’s tribal casinos. NC law considers poker a game of chance, and it is therefore illegal in any other location.
Horse racing
While there are no active horse racing operations in North Carolina, tribal casinos allow off-track wagering on racing. Pari-mutuel and fixed odds betting are available on tribal property only.
Daily fantasy sports
In North Carolina, no laws prohibiting playing fantasy sports exist. It falls within a grey area, meaning that DFS operators can run without interference from the state. DraftKings, FanDuel, and Monkey Knife Fight are among the more popular operators.
Quick facts: North Carolina sports betting
While online North Carolina sports betting still seems a ways away, eager bettors can venture to three tribal casinos to place their sports bets.
Refer back to our NC quick facts table for the latest updates:
| Online launch date | TBD |
| Legal age for betting | 21 |
| Online sports betting | No ❌ |
| Number of betting licenses | 2 |
| Number of betting sites | 0 |
| Remote registration | No ❌ |
| Retail sportsbooks | Yes ✅ |
| Online casino sites | No ❌ |
| Online poker | No ❌ |
| Retail casinos | Yes ✅ |
| Betting on college sports | No ❌ |
| Betting on esports | No ❌ |
| State population | 10.67 million |
| Total handle (2021) | N/A |
| Tax rate | TBD |
| State regulator | Tribal Gaming Commission |
Responsible gaming in North Carolina
With such a focused history of limiting gambling in the state, North Carolina has put significant resources into responsible gambling education and support programs. North Carolinians with gambling problems can leverage preventative measures with just a click or phone call.
The NC Education Lottery, for example, has a program called Play Smart, which centers around the education, encouragement, and empowerment of lottery players.
Visit the North Carolina Council on Problem GamingLegal U.S. sports betting markets
Each state became able to legalize and regulate sports betting following the strike down of PASPA in 2018. These U.S. jurisdictions have already done that:
Upcoming legal U.S. sports betting launches
Legal Maryland mobile betting started on Nov. 23, 2022, and Ohio sportsbooks, including online and retail, launched on Jan. 1, 2023.
Massachusetts stands poised to implement online sports betting and welcome the industry's biggest brands. We expect Massachusetts online sports betting to get underway sometime in March 2023. However, brick-and-mortar sportsbooks could open their doors in January.
Potential legal U.S. sports betting markets
The following is a list of states moving toward legal sports betting that may potentially be getting close to generating their own markets:
Sportsbooks to avoid in North Carolina
See all blacklisted sportsbooks
Mobile betting is not legal in North Carolina in 2023. While it may be tempting to seek out options elsewhere in the meantime, we advise you not to risk your money and waste your time with unregulated sportsbooks that operate illegally. Save your bankroll for legal North Carolina sports betting sites.
- Allegations of withdrawal issues
- No license information available on site
- Poor customer service
- Multiple reports of slow payments
- Allegations of non-payments
- Risk of account closure simply for winning bets
- Reports of confiscated winnings
- Slow customer support response times
North Carolina sports betting FAQs
Yes. However, sports betting is currently limited to the state's three tribal casinos: Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel, and the temporary Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain.
Right now, retail sports betting is the sole option in the state. Bettors can visit sportsbooks located in one of three NC tribal casinos. There are no legal North Carolina betting sites at this time.
No. Senate Bill 688 would've brought legal mobile sports betting to North Carolina, but it failed to garner enough votes to pass through the House in June 2022.
Yes. Pari-mutuel and fixed odds wagering are available only on tribal lands.
No, but sports betting is highly restricted in North Carolina. There is no way to legally bet online and there are only three fully realized retail locations.
The Tribal Gaming Commission is responsible for the regulation of all gaming activities on Eastern Cherokee Lands. The North Carolina Lottery Commission has limited regulatory scope over tribal gaming to ensure compliance with compact provisions.
The minimum age to legally bet on sports and casino games in North Carolina is 21. If you are 18, you can wager on the state lottery.
Daily fantasy sports live in a grey area in North Carolina, and are neither sanctioned nor prohibited. Therefore, DFS operators run without hinderance from the state.
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Joshua Howe is a sports betting editor at Covers, helping make smarter sports bettors since 2021. The experienced writer and editor has reviewed over 20 sportsbooks and has been placing his own wagers for three years and counting. He prefers FanDuel for its sleek app design and variety of NBA markets.
