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Caesars Earns Mobile Sports Betting License in North Carolina

Davis Isabela

Updated as of January 31, 2024 at 10:56 AM EST • Read time: 2 minutes and 36 seconds. Find more information on Twitter and Google News.

RJ Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels listens to head coach Hubert Davis as we look at Caesars joining the North Carolina sports betting market.
RJ Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels listens to head coach Hubert Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels in the huddle. Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images via AFP.

Caesars Underscoreg appeared poised to be approved as one of the North Carolina sports betting apps set to launch in the Tar Heel State on March 11 at noon local time. Pre-registration for the platforms will open on March 1.

Caesars Entertainment announced on Tuesday that it is expanding its partnership with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to offer legal mobile sports wagering in North Carolina. This expansion will complement Caesars’ existing retail presence in the state, pending approval from the North Carolina Lottery Commission.

Eric Hession, president of Caesars Digital, stated in a press release that their partnership with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has lasted over twenty years. By expanding this partnership, they aim to enhance the sports wagering experience at their in-person sportsbooks and provide a responsible way for North Carolinians aged 21 and older to enjoy sports on a deeper level.

How the partnership came about

Since 1997, Caesars has partnered with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to provide sports betting at two tribal casinos in North Carolina, following the tribe’s establishment of a retail gambling facility in the state.

Caesars Underscoreg operates two retail locations in North Carolina: Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel in Murphy.

The regulations for sports betting in North Carolina require that any prospective online provider must form a partnership with a state tribe, sports team, or sporting venue hosting one of North Carolina’s teams.

The collaboration between Caesars and the Eastern Band made perfect sense as a strategic move for Caesars to enter the mobile market in North Carolina. New bettors signing up in March should make sure to capitalize on the various promotions offered by top North Carolina sportsbooks.

Win-win

Caesars has always been recognized as a top choice for sports betting apps in North Carolina. It was the sole sportsbook with a presence in the state before Gov. Roy Cooper legalized mobile sports betting, marking the first expansion of the platform in North Carolina since 2005.

Caesars will see immediate advantages from its established reputation as a top sportsbook in the state, as well as from its prominent position as one of the most well-known names in the U.S. gambling industry.

The opportunity to partner with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians allows Caesars to extend their presence in North Carolina and capitalize on the anticipated high demand in the state leading up to March Madness.

The Eastern Band also gains from a strong partnership with one of the most reputable gambling companies in North America. EBCI Principal Chief Richard Sneed expressed his satisfaction with the bipartisan law, which allows North Carolina to compete with other states that have already legalized mobile sports betting.

Michell Hicks, Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, expressed enthusiasm for the new partnership with Caesars Entertainment and the improvements it brings to their Tribal enterprise. He eagerly anticipates the ongoing opportunities that will positively impact the future of their membership.

Both entities are not obligated to pay the $1 million licensing fee in the state. North Carolina law ensured that its tribes and partners were exempt from this fee.

North Carolina market at a glance

Eight sports betting sites in North Carolina have officially obtained licenses ahead of the March 11 launch. Underdog Sports completed their partnership obligation by announcing a partnership with McConnell Golf last week.

The current list of partners is as follows:

  • bet365 – Charlotte Hornets
  • BetMGM – Charlotte Motor Speedway
  • FanDuel – the PGA Tour
  • DraftKings – NASCAR
  • Caesars Underscoreg – Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
  • Fanatics Betting and Gaming – Carolina Hurricanes
  • PENN Sports Interactive (ESPN BET) – Quail Hollow Club 
  • Underdog Underscoreg – McConnell Golf
Written By:
Davis Isabela
Davis Isabela is the Editor-in-Chief of Underscoreg Review. He has been a writer, reporter and editor for more than 20 years, and his work has appeared in more than 200 publications across North America. His first book, “100 Greatest Canadian Sports Moments”, was a hardcover best-seller in Canada in 2008. He has written more than 50 sportsbook reviews and dozens of other sportsbook-related content articles. James has also been quoted as a sports betting expert in USA Today and Sports Illustrated.