North Carolina Sports Betting Launch Could Come as Soon as Jan. 8

North Carolina sports betting will have its online launch in the very near future. During a North Carolina Lottery Commission committee meeting this month, it was shared that sports betting apps could begin to go live in the state as soon as Jan. 8.

The sports betting committee met to discuss rules for mobile wagering. The new legislation will mandate that North Carolina's legal mobile sports betting market will be up and running by mid-June of 2024.

On June 8, 2023, the N.C. General Assembly passed, "An Act to Authorize and Regulate Wagering on Professional, College, and Amateur Horse Racing in North Carolina, and to Authorize Live Horse Racing in North Carolina." The governor signed it into law on June 14.

The lottery commission, along with the new sports betting committee, has been working on the rules and compliance ever since.

“Thank you … for clarifying that this would not all be done by Jan. 8, otherwise we would be probably meeting daily instead of weekly to get all that done,” Commissioner Cari Boyce said to Chairman Ripley Rand in the meeting.

The committee discussed pick 'em style wagering such as PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy, which appears to be in a gray under North Carolina state law and in other states. However, lottery commissioners have decided not to weigh in on the topic and instead focus on getting operations ready for the 2024 launch, according to reporting from Sports Handle.

The committee also discussed various niche sports betting such as Esports, which also appears to not be allowed in the outset of legalized sports wagering in North Carolina.

The commission is likely to continue to meet in the near future where they are likely to discuss which sportsbooks will be offered and how soon they will be able to launch.

Are you in North Carolina? With North Carolina sports betting coming online in 2024, you’ll be able to bet legally at major sportsbooks. Learn more.