Caesars Underscoreg Entering North Carolina Market?

Regulators in North Carolina are working hard to finalize the list of providers for the upcoming sports betting platform, with hopes of launching before the March Madness tournament. Several top sports betting apps are expected to be included in the selection.

The North Carolina Lottery Commission has announced that two new North Carolina sports betting apps, Catawba Two Kings Casino and Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise Cherokee, have applied for licenses to operate in the state. This brings the total number of hopeful sports betting apps to nine, joining the seven that were previously named.

It is widely anticipated that Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise Cherokee will collaborate with Caesars Entertainment, which already has a retail presence in North Carolina’s sports betting market, to offer online sports betting services. The application from Catawba Two Kings Casino did not indicate any future partnerships or affiliations.

The Caesars connection

Before the legalization of mobile sports betting, Caesars Underdog had a pre-existing relationship with North Carolina bettors. The sports betting giant has provided in-person sports betting at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in the state.

The latest rumored collaboration for Caesars will enable the sportsbook to introduce mobile sports betting to its existing retail sports wagering platform in North Carolina, offering residents more chances to benefit from sportsbook promotions.

In addition to forming a partnership with a local tribe, Caesars must also establish a connection with a professional sports league, team, or sports venue in the state in order to provide mobile sports betting. Nearly all of the approved online providers have already secured these partnerships in preparation for the upcoming launch in North Carolina.

Caesars has not announced any plans to move forward with a partnership deal, but one may be in the works.

Looking at the North Carolina scene

There has been a steady stream of updates regarding the approval of successful applicants for access to North Carolina sports betting sites in the past month. The North Carolina Lottery Commission has granted seven mobile sports betting licenses, with six of those also securing partnerships with sports venues or teams.

DraftKings joined forces with NASCAR last week, while BetMGM revealed a new collaboration with Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The sportsbooks that have met all regulatory requirements are:

• bet365 with the Charlotte Hornets
• BetMGM with Charlotte Motor Speedway
• DraftKings with NASCAR
• Fanatics Betting and Gaming with the Carolina Hurricanes
• FanDuel with the PGA Tour
• PENN Sports Interactive (ESPN BET) with the Quail Hollow Club

Underdog has not yet announced a required partnership agreement with a sports entity in North Carolina. They have approximately two months to fulfill this requirement.

But When?

While there has been plenty of news surrounding North Carolina’s upcoming legal sports betting platform, the crucial launch date for the state’s sports betting sites is still unknown.

Regulators have indicated that the platform will not be ready for the Super Bowl, so March Madness seems like the next best opportunity for launch. North Carolina, being a state known for its passion for basketball, would make for the perfect timing.

Additional meetings have been organized with the anticipation of an official release date for legal sports betting in North Carolina being revealed in the near future.