North Carolina Won’t Have a Legal Sports Betting Platform By Super Bowl LVIII

Regulators in North Carolina have once more delayed the potential launch of sports betting, leaving residents unable to access the state’s top sportsbooks.

The North Carolina Lottery Commission announced on Wednesday that sports betting apps will not be available in the state until after the Super Bowl on Feb. 11. This means that North Carolina bettors will miss out on the entire NFL season.

Lottery Commission Chairman Ripley Rand acknowledged the excitement surrounding sports betting and the upcoming Super Bowl. He mentioned that despite the commission’s commitment to expediting the process, the necessary work remaining means that sports betting will not be operational in time for the big game.

Originally, the Commission aimed for Jan. 8 as the earliest potential launch date for a legal North Carolina sports betting platform. However, lawmakers allowed for flexibility by setting June 15, 2024, as the final deadline for the platform to become operational.

Regulators in North Carolina are gearing up for a busy sports wagering scene, with March Madness set to take the spotlight after the Super Bowl – the largest betting day in the U.S. calendar – has passed.

At Wednesday’s meeting, an official launch date was not announced.

The hold-up

Regulators in the North Carolina legal sports betting industry have acknowledged that their initial timeline for a quick launch was unrealistic. There is still a significant amount of work to be done before the platform is ready, meaning residents will have to wait longer before being able to take advantage of North Carolina sportsbook promotions.

The Commission convened on Wednesday and unanimously endorsed the licensing application process for prospective sports betting providers. The process is expected to be operational by Monday, with applications being accepted until December 27th.

The Commission requires time to review applications and compile a list of successful applicants, which is expected to be published in the first quarter of 2024. A minimum of 60 days is necessary to complete all vetting procedures.

More on the application process discussed

While it is unfortunate that the legal sports betting launch date has been pushed back, it is a positive outcome that the Commission has established rules for the application process for potential wagering providers.

Candidates can check ncgaming.gov for their application as soon as this week’s end or the next week’s beginning.

Applicants must have agreements in place with North Carolina’s professional sports teams and major venues to begin retail sports wagering simultaneously with mobile wagering.

Hopeful providers are expected to submit applications containing at least a thousand pages of documentation. Due to the high number of applications, the Commission will require some time to select a group of providers for the legal sports betting industry in the Tar Heel State.

Ripley Rand stated that sports betting in North Carolina will be subject to strict regulations and high expectations for licensees, similar to other states.

So, when already?

The Commission did not provide a specific launch date for North Carolina sports betting, but Wednesday’s news gives us some clues to anticipate its arrival.

Legal sports betting seems to be heading towards a launch in March. This would allow for betting on the second-largest sports event in the United States, and potentially the most exciting event for basketball fans in North Carolina, March Madness.

Chairman Rand concluded his remarks on Wednesday by stating that the date for setting regulations on sports betting will depend on the number of license applicants, completion of initial rulemaking, background checks on applicants and key individuals, approval of provisional licenses for suppliers, and verification of proposed internal controls and certified equipment by independent testing laboratories for licensed operators.