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Are Legal Online Sports Betting Sites Coming to North Carolina?

by Dave Schwab - 5/1/2023

Tar Heels Basketball

Earlier in March of this year, the state House in North Carolina approved HB 347 that legalized online sportsbooks across 10 to 12 operators. This latest bill is on its way to the state Senate for approval. HB 347 passed its first reading in the Senate, which is a more favorable circumstance in 2022. The proposed bill at that time failed to reach the state House floor.

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In July of 2019, North Carolina legalized retail sports betting in tribal casinos. Harrah’s has both retail sportsbooks at the casino just west of Asheville and in Murphey, just east of the Georgia and Tennessee boundaries. The retail sportsbooks at Harrah’s Casino are regulated by the state of North Carolina, but online sports betting is still illegal.

HB 347 proclaims that anyone 21 years old and older would be able to bet online at North Carolina sportsbooks. State betting sites could register an online sports betting account if they were at least 18 years old. Daily fantasy sports league sites are legal in North Carolina, but they have not been regulated by state lawmakers. DraftKings and FanDuel are the most popular DFS sites.

Legalized North Carolina Online Sports Betting in 2023

North Carolina’s state legislative session opened in January of 2023. After falling just short of legalized online betting in 2022, there was a strong push to have a state House bill that was similar to legal online sports betting. State Representative Jason Saine told a local North Carolina station (WNCT-CBS) that he would file a bill earlier this year.

On March 13, HB 347 was filed. The bill would allow up to 12 online sportsbooks to operate in North Carolina as a sports betting site. State Rep. Saine commented:

“We’ve learned a good bit from both sides about some of the tweaks that needed to happen. We’ve worked to accommodate those concerns, and we believe we have a bill that can do better than pass. It can get broad support from both caucuses.”

The North Carolina House Rules Committee passed HB 347 on March 28. Approval from the full state House followed in the process. HB 347 now sits on the state Senate’s floor. Initial revenue from licensing up to 12 online sportsbook operators would generate $12 million dollars for North Carolina. The whole package of tax revenues for local and state governments from online sports betting is a substantial amount of dollars.

North Carolina’s deadline for passing HB 347 by the state Senate is early May. The state’s legislative session closes at the end of August.

North Carolina’s Recent Sports Betting Updates

North Carolina’s House voted 66-45 in favor of HB 347 on March 28. This bill would permit 10 to 12 online sportsbook operators and the total revenue includes $85 million in a budget proposal.

On April 27, the passage of HB 347 stalled in the state Senate. However, the Carolina Panthers of the NFL selected first overall in the opening round of the draft and picked former Alabama Crimson Tide’s quarterback Bryce Young to lead the offense. This NFL draft pick could be an incentive for the North Carolina Senate to allow online sports betting for the state.

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