RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – North Carolina became the latest state Monday to allow mobile sports betting with the official launch occurring at noon.
Gov. Roy Cooper (D), who signed legislation authorizing sports betting into law last year, released a video in which he placed his first bet on the Carolina Hurricanes to win the Stanley Cup later this year.
Fans of the Hurricanes gathered at Backyard Bistro near PNC Arena in Raleigh on Monday for various events coinciding with the launch of sports betting.
“I’ve waited a long time. I love going to Vegas,” said Sue Bohnsack, a 20-year season ticket holder from Clayton. “With the NCAA tournament coming up there’s going to be a lot to bet on.”
When lawmakers approved sports betting, they gave the NC Lottery Commission until mid-June to launch. While it was not in place in time for the Super Bowl, Gov. Cooper had said it was a goal to have it in place in time for March Madness.
“It’s likely that North Carolina will be the biggest state to launch sports betting in 2024,” said Robert Linnehan, who covers regulations for Sports Betting Dime. “It’s a great time for North Carolina to launch. Obviously, North Carolina is a college sports-crazed state.”
The state has approved licenses for eight operators so far: DraftKings, FanDuel, bet365, BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics, ESPN Bet and Underdog Sports.
“If you didn’t think gambling was happening in North Carolina, you lived under a rock. We had no control. Now it’s under control of the lottery. The state is gonna benefit from the taxes from it,” said Don Waddell, general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes. “You’ve got to be responsible if you’re gonna be gambling on sports. So, we’re gonna try to send all the messages. It’s not for everybody. It’s not for everybody. But, the people that have been doing it now can do it legally.”
Lawmakers required the various betting operators to partner with professional teams and leagues in order to be eligible for a license. That will include the ability to operate in-person sportsbooks as well.
Waddell said while there had been discussion about running that out of Backyard Bistro, they determined based on the various regulations they would have to meet that it would be better to have the in-person sportsbook at PNC Arena. It’s unclear when the state will approve in-person betting to begin.
A non-partisan analysis by the legislature’s fiscal research division found the state is expected to generate about $100 million annually by the fifth year of sports betting being operational, with the state netting about $71.6 million after expenses.
The first $2 million in revenue generated from sports betting will go toward problem gambling programs.
Alexandra Sirota, executive director of the left-leaning NC Budget and Tax Center, said she’s concerned mobile sports betting will only further fuel problem gambling and questions state lawmakers increasingly turning to gambling as a source of revenue for the state.
“We shouldn’t be looking to gambling and betting as the path forward for our state to grow a strong economy,” she said. “We know that the revenue that gets generated is nowhere near the dollars that we need to makeup for the losses in tax cuts that have been given to profitable corporations and the wealthy over the past decade.”
The NC Education Lottery launched digital instant games late last year, offering a new mobile option for customers. State lawmakers are likely to consider whether to legalize video lottery terminals during the upcoming legislative session this spring. Senate leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) recently said he no longer plans to push for additional brick-and-mortar casinos during the session.
Michael Hyland
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