Sports Betting in North Carolina 2025

Is Sports Betting Legal in North Carolina?

The change to North Carolina gambling laws has opened up the state to the fast-growing sports betting industry. With a range of companies offering their services, including North Carolina sports betting apps, to citizens residing in the state, it can be challenging to find the right bookmaker to suit your gambling desires.

As such, we put together this article to make life easier for our readers. We’ll cover everything related to North Carolina’s online sports betting, but also touch on US sports betting laws over all states.

Top 5 North Carolina Online Betting Sites

For any of our readers still wondering “how to bet on sports in North Carolina”, you’ve in safe hands. With a bubbling gambling community in the state, we have put together some of the very best online sports betting providers favored by North Carolina residents.

Sports betting in North Carolina is normally done through U.S.-based platforms. But, with the growth of the offshore betting industry, we’ve seen a growing number of sports fans and bettors moving to these platforms. With so many available it can be a real challenge to filter through them. So we’ve listed five of the top-tier providers for you below.

Legal Online Sportsbooks in North Carolina

Sports betting is fully legal in North Carolina—and the market is growing fast. Since launching mobile wagering in March 2024, the state has quickly become a major player in the U.S. sports betting landscape.

North Carolina residents can legally place bets online through several state-approved operators. These sportsbooks are licensed, regulated, and must follow strict guidelines set by the North Carolina State Lottery Commission to ensure a safe and fair betting experience.

North Carolina Quick Facts

Here’s a snapshot of everything you need to know about sports betting in North Carolina. From legalization and launch dates to age requirements and betting restrictions, this quick-reference guide breaks down the key facts at a glance.

Why Some North Carolina Bettors Are Choosing Offshore Sportsbooks

North Carolina’s legal sports betting market is new, growing fast, and already attracting major operators. But for all the hype, it doesn’t come without drawbacks. Limited betting markets, tight regulatory controls, and required geolocation checks can make the experience feel restrictive—especially for seasoned or value-driven bettors.

That’s where offshore sportsbooks come in. They offer more freedom, more flexibility, and often a better overall value than the legal options available in-state.

Advantages of Offshore Betting Sites for North Carolina Players

1. More Variety in Bets — Offshore sportsbooks typically allow wagering on things you can’t touch legally in North Carolina—like political elections, award shows, entertainment outcomes, and certain esports events. Some even offer odds on local college teams, which are off-limits on many state-regulated platforms.
2. Competitive Odds & Lower Fees — Without being weighed down by state taxes or compliance costs, offshore sportsbooks can afford to offer better lines and lower juice. That means more value on every bet, which adds up over time.
3. Bet From Anywhere — Unlike legal sportsbooks in North Carolina that require you to be within state lines and tracked via geolocation, offshore books let you wager from anywhere—no state-based blocks or location permissions required.
4. Faster Payments & More Methods — Offshore sites are usually crypto-friendly and offer faster deposits and withdrawals than state-regulated books. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and altcoins are supported on most platforms, alongside traditional methods like credit cards and wire transfers.
5. No Red Tape — You won’t need to jump through as many hoops to verify your identity, upload documents, or deal with government-mandated self-exclusion tools—making the process faster and smoother for many bettors.

What You Can’t Bet On Legally in North Carolina

While the new mobile betting market is a huge step forward for the state, there are still some things you can’t legally bet on through licensed sportsbooks:

• High school sports
• Most esports events
• Political elections
• Award shows (like the Oscars or Emmys)
• Certain novelty or entertainment markets

Offshore sportsbooks typically do allow betting on these markets, giving players more ways to wager beyond the standard spread or moneyline.

Who’s Eligible to Bet in North Carolina?

To legally place a sports bet in North Carolina with a state-licensed operator:

• You must be 21 or older.
• You must be physically located in North Carolina. Geolocation is required to verify this.
• You don’t need to be a resident, but you must be in the state when placing bets.

Who Can’t Bet Legally?

Certain groups are restricted from betting under North Carolina law, including:

• Athletes, coaches, officials, or anyone involved with the sporting event
• Employees of sportsbooks or leagues with influence over outcomes
• Anyone on a self-exclusion list for problem gambling
• Persons banned by law due to conflict of interest or insider access

Final Word: More Freedom, Less Friction

While North Carolina’s legal market is a welcome development, offshore sportsbooks remain a popular choice for players who want fewer limitations, broader markets, and more control over how—and where—they bet. For those seeking a smoother, more flexible experience, offshore remains a strong alternative.

North Carolina Sports Betting – Recent Updates

• March 11, 2024 — North Carolina online sports betting is now live.
• February 13, 2024 — Caesars Sportsbook has declared its launch date as March 11, coinciding with the first day of legal betting in North Carolina.
• February 8, 2024 — The 2024 ACC Tournament is scheduled to commence on March 12, one day after the launch of legal online sports betting in North Carolina. Notably, there are four North Carolina college teams in the ACC.
• February 8, 2024 — While North Carolina sports betting regulators are yet to approve any sports betting licenses, FanDuel’s website indicates that the sportsbook will be available on March 11, “subject to regulatory approval.” Pre-registration is slated to begin on March 1.
• February 2, 2024 — Caesars has expanded its partnership with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, providing the sportsbook access to the North Carolina sports betting market.
• January 24, 2024 — North Carolina sports betting regulators have officially announced March 11, 2024, as the state’s launch date for legal online sports betting, strategically positioned one week before the onset of March Madness.

Six Reasons to Bet on These North Carolina Betting Sites

With various great sports betting opportunities to enjoy, bettors have flocked to offshore bookmakers in recent years. Offshore bookmakers offer great odds and a first-class betting experience. But, what to look out for on these platforms? Well, we’ve put together a list of six must-haves from your next sportsbook provider. Let’s take a look.

List Of Casinos In North Carolina

North Carolina is still tackling legislators to allow for mobile sports betting. But, for the most part, the state has legal gambling operating the state and a wealth of great opportunities for bettors. However, there are always some players that prefer to wager in person. As such, we put together a list of all the land-based betting facilities in the state for our readers to enjoy.

• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort
• Catawba Two Kings Casino
• Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River
• 29 BizCenter
• The Gauntlet
• Sweepstakes Casino

North Carolina Sports Betting Timeline

In order to keep on top of everything related to North Carolina online sports betting, we have created various timelines on this page. With the sports betting landscape constantly evolving in the state, it’s important we keep our readers informed.

We go back to 2021, highlighting the exciting journey of the North Carolina sports betting bill as it makes its way to the big table. There are many improvements to make to the law, but for now, things are moving in the right direction. Stay tuned!

2024

January – Legal online sports betting is launched

As of March 11, 2024, North Carolina has officially joined the growing list of states that have legalized sports betting. Eight sports betting apps, including FanDuel, Caesars, BetMGM, bet365, and DraftKings, now available to bettors across the state.

2023

June – North Carolina’s betting bill evolution

In 2023, North Carolina’s sports betting bill, HB 347, overcame legislative hurdles, securing enactment by Governor Roy Cooper on June 14. By December, the North Carolina State Lottery Commission ratified additional sports betting regulations, while seven online sports betting companies, including Bet365, BetMGM, DraftKings, ESPN Bet, Fanatics, FanDuel, and Underdog Sports, not only secured licenses but also forged partnerships with local pro sports entities.

2022

January – Current online sports betting bill begins its way to the House

With many now vying for the current online sports betting bill to go through, it begins making its way through committee hearings in February. The Senate bill offers the possibility of 10 to 12 online bookmakers. Though, without the House calendar opening up a slot for debate, nothing will change.

2021

March – Attempts to move for legal sports betting begin at two casinos in the state

A bill has been presented to the Senate, as the legalised online sports betting bill begins its journey to the state legislature. The bill is eligible to pick back up in the house when the 2022 session begins. The plan is to start things off at two casinos operating in the state, with many lobbyists backing the bill.