Best North Carolina Sports Betting Sites: Live Now!

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Mobile sports betting is officially live in North Carolina. The Tar Heel State unveiled its brand new online wagering market this afternoon, with several top-tier sports betting sites jumping into the mix right out of the gate. Operators that went live included FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, bet365, ESPN BET, Fanatics Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook, and the brand new Underdog Sports.

With so many brands to choose from, we’ve outlined our top North Carolina sportsbooks in the paragraphs below, including details on each brand’s exclusive welcome offer for first-time users. Read on for all the details you’ll need to know in order to get started with North Carolina online sports betting.

Best North Carolina Sports Betting Sites

Thus far, eight operators have entered the door in North Carolina — and they’re some of the best sports betting sites available in the United States. In addition to their strong reputations and first-class online platforms, each of North Carolina’s top sports betting sites is currently offering a welcome bonus to any first-time registrants as a way to kick off the launch.

To claim any of the following North Carolina sports betting promotions, simply click on the links within this article. Here are the best sports betting sites available in the Tar Heel State, right now:

Fanatics Sportsbook North Carolina

Fanatics Sportsbook is newer on the scene, pivoting from merchandise to sports betting about a year and a half ago. In terms of markets, it offers various domestic and international sports, including everything from the NBA to the U.S. Open.

Fanatics Sportsbook is operational in 16 states (CO, CT, IA, IN, KY, MD, MA, MI, NC, NY, OH, PA, TN, VT, VA, and WV), with North Carolina being the most recent addition.

Sports bettors in North Carolina can sign up today and receive a generous offer: Bet $20 and Get $200 in FanCash! No code Fanatics North Carolina promo code is required for this offer – simply click on this link to claim!

Must be 21+ and present in North Carolina. Full T&C apply. Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov

FanDuel Sportsbook North Carolina

FanDuel is a giant in American sports betting. It’s one of the most well-known sportsbooks, and for good reason. The platform offers virtually any market, including traditional professional leagues, the UEFA Champions League, and similar international soccer leagues.

As of March 11, FanDuel is now live in 22 states, including North Carolina (AZ, CO, CT, IL, TN, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA, VT, WV, WY).

New bettors in North Carolina can sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook North Carolina and score a Bet $5, Get $250 in Bonus Bets offer! No FanDuel North Carolina promo code is required to claim this offer – simply click this link to get started!

Must be 21+ and present in North Carolina. Full T&C apply. Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov

bet365 Sportsbook North Carolina

bet365 has long been an international sports betting powerhouse, but has branched out stateside more recently and, thus far, has endured much success.

While it’s not operational in a ton of states just yet — with the addition of North Carolina, there are ten total states (AZ, CO, IA, IN, KY, LA, NC, NJ, OH, VA). The smattering of markets has garnered much acclaim with American users.

The bet365 North Carolina bonus code TRIBUNE offers sports bettors in North Carolina a Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets or a $1000 First Bet Safety Net offer!

Must be 21+ and present in North Carolina. Full T&C apply. Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov

BetMGM Sportsbook North Carolina

BetMGM is another huge name in American sports betting, though most people may be familiar with its casino product in addition to its sportsbook. BetMGM Sportsbook offers a wide range of markets, covering everything from MMA to the PGA Tour.

As of March 11, BetMGM is now live in 20 locations, including North Carolina (AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, DC).

North Carolina sports bettors can use the BetMGM North Carolina bonus code TRIBUNEMGM for the offer: Bet $5, Get $150 instantly in Bonus Bets after placing your first wager!

Must be 21+ and present in North Carolina. Full T&C apply. Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov

Caesars Sportsbook North Carolina

Caesars Sportsbook is another of the ‘old guard’ of American sports betting. The brand is very well known, and the sportsbook product is one of the most versatile on the market, offering profit boosts and diverse markets.

Including the March 11 North Carolina launch, Caesars Sportsbook is now available in 21 states (AZ, CO, MA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY).

Sign up for Caesars NC using the Caesars North Carolina promo code TRIBUNENC for the offer: Bet $10, Get $250 in $50 Dollar Bonus Bets!

Must be 21+ and present in North Carolina. Full T&C apply. Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov

DraftKings Sportsbook North Carolina

DraftKings fits well into a similar category as FanDuel. Although it is a newer operator compared to the established brands, it has quickly gathered a lot of name recognition and many devoted users.

It’s one of the few American operators that offers Jai Alai if that’s your game. It also provides daily profit boosts on different sports and a consistent bet insurance promotion for new customers.

With the addition of North Carolina, DraftKings is now operational in 19 states (NC, NY, NJ, PA, IN, IA, WV, CO, TN, IL, VA, MI, AZ, KS, LA, WY, MD, OH, MA).

Sports bettors can sign up for DraftKings North Carolina using this link to get the offer: Bet $5, Get $250 in Bonus Bets! No DraftKings North Carolina promo code is required.

Must be 21+ and present in North Carolina. Full T&C apply. Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov

ESPN BET North Carolina

The worldwide leader in sports is angling to become a worldwide leader in sports betting, too. ESPN BET is much newer on the scene compared to most of the other operators on this list, but with the substantial capital behind it, it has made a huge splash in sports betting markets across the country.

ESPN BET offers some daily promotions and new player promotions like a deposit match or bet insurance, which have drawn customers to the product. Beyond that, the odds boosts on seasonal games like the NBA or NFL have become hugely popular.

ESPN BET is now available in 18 states (AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV), including North Carolina.

ESPN BET is offering North Carolina sports bettors a Bet Anything, Get $225 in Bonus Bets promotion with the use of the ESPN BET North Carolina promo code TRIBUNENC.

Must be 21+ and present in North Carolina. Full T&C apply. Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov

Underdog Sports North Carolina

Underdog is unique to this list as a DFS operator branching out with a brand new sportsbook in North Carolina. The launch in the Tar Heel State would be the first location the sportsbook operates. It’s not clear exactly what markets will be available, but it’s quite likely that the go-live promotion will be a $1,000 bet insurance offer.

Latest North Carolina Sports Betting News

Following the landmark PASPA decision in 2018, online sports betting was relegated to the purview of state legislators. Since then, we’ve seen periodic launches and legalizations and will likely see many more.

The trajectory of online sports betting in North Carolina follows a similar pattern as that of other states. There was an initial legislative push, followed by some legal hurdles before Gov. Roy Copper eventually signed the bill into law that would allow for legal sports betting.

We’ve provided a broad timeline of legal sports betting in the Tar Heel State.

  • March 14, 2023: HB 347 presented by Sen. Tim Moffitt is put forward in North Carolina legislature
  • June 7, 2023: North Carolina House approves HB 347
  • June 14, 2023: Gov. Roy Cooper signs HB347 into law with the the North Carolina Education Lottery taking charge of the rollout.
  • June 21, 2023: Draft of bill including casino gambling goes to NC legislature
  • August 8, 2023: ESPN BET announces future launch in North Carolina
  • August 21, 2023: Delayed launch as North Carolina Education Lottery was not ready ahead of Super Bowl 58
  • September 28, 2023: NC regulators announce required partnership with local sports teams or venues for operators
  • November 14, 2023: North Carolina Lottery Commission indicates online sports betting delayed beyond early Jan. 2024
  • November 16, 2023: NC State Lottery Commission approves in-state sports betting rules
  • December 5, 2023: ESPN BET announces planned partnership with Quail Hollow Club of PGA Tour, officially gaining access to NC online sports betting ahead of the launch
  • December 15, 2023: Fanatics Sportsbook’s slated partnership with Carolina Hurricanes is publicly discussed
  • December 26, 2023: Gov. Cooper announces his desire to see legal sports betting operators in the state by March 2024
  • January 5, 2024: BetMGM partners with Charlotte Motor Speedway to gain access to NC online sports betting. DraftKings partners with NASCAR to gain access
  • January 22, 2024: Underdog Sports confirms partnership with McConnell Golf to gain entry to the Tar Heel State
  • January 24, 2024: Official launch date announcement: March 11
  • January 30, 2024: Caesars Sportsbook expands partnership with Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to gain in-state entry, the tribe that owns Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort
  • March 1, 2024: Several operators launch pre-registration promotions before the March 11 go-live date.
  • March 11, 2024: North Carolina online sports betting officially went live at 12:00pm ET.

How to Start Betting on Sports Online

North Carolina FanDuel sportsbook on desktop.

 

 

 

 

Since legal sports betting is now officially live in North Carolina, you can get started easily with any of the operators above. You’ll need to meet some specific age restrictions to be eligible in the state, and each individual sportsbook will often have specific restrictions on certain promotions, many of which we’ve outlined below.

Overall, the process is about the same as sports betting in any other legal state: you select an operator you like and use the relevant promo or bonus code to sign up for an account. You’ll make a cash deposit, and then you’re off to the races — literally and figuratively.

Registering for NC Online Sports Betting

To register online with one of the North Carolina betting apps, you must be at least 21 or older. State regulations do not allow anyone under 21 to sign up with any sportsbook. While this age requirement is enacted on a state-by-state basis, it’s the widely accepted age.

Currently, Bet365 in Kentucky allows players 18 or older to sign up, but most other states exclusively allow players 21 and older.

To get started at any of these NC sports betting sites, you’ll need to provide your legal home address, social security number, and email address.

Reading Odds

Reading odds is a critical part of any sign-up process. However, getting started at any of the numerous North Carolina betting sites can be overwhelming. You’re confronted with many different markets and varied promotions, many of which are exclusively for new customers, which can be off-putting to new users.

Say you see the Charlotte Hornets moneyline at +320 against the Orlando Magic at -200, but you’re not sure what to make of that. The positive odds indicate that the team is the underdog, while the negative odds indicate that the team is a favorite. Naturally, the payout will be more substantial with an underdog.

Placing Bets

You’ll need to add funds to your account for any online betting, and North Carolina sportsbooks are no different. You can usually add funds directly into your account from a debit card or some major credit cards, though it’s best to review the accepted payment methods at whatever sportsbook you choose.

Legal online sports betting means you can and should file any potential winnings on your tax return each year. Typically, whatever tax program you use will have a specific section designated for gambling winnings.

Cashing Out

Now, for the important part: cashing out. What good is a specific NC sports betting law, the wide variety of North Carolina sports, or online NC sports betting if you can’t access any of the money?

Some sportsbooks have specific promotional requirements you must meet before cashing out, like a certain amount you’ll need to wager before the funds are available.

You can typically cash out any available funds through your bet slip. Most sportsbooks will have something denoting “cash out” or “withdraw” on your bet slip. Just click that and select your withdrawal method.

It’s important to remember that bonus bets earned from sports bets on any platform are not actually withdrawable as cash; you’ll need to bet them first before they are accessible.

Bonus Codes, Offers, and Promotions

North Carolina sports bettors and bettors elsewhere can deploy varied promo codes or bonus codes to unlock specific promotions.

During the brief pre-registration period, most of the operators listed above had specific promotions with corresponding bonus codes for new users. There are more new customer promotions than existing customer promotions, but some sportsbooks have both. There are tons of different promotional structures, but some of the most common are:

  • First bet insurance: You get your cash stake credited as bonus bets only if you lose.
  • Bet and get: You’ll place a small cash bet (often $5 or $10) in cash to get a certain amount of bonus bets back, regardless of whether you win or lose.
  • Deposit match: You’ll get a portion (or sometimes all) of what you deposit in cash credited to your account as bonus bets.

Bet Types

It’s best to review the different types of bets you can place, whether that be on North Carolina college sports like the North Carolina Tar Heels, professional teams like the Carolina Hurricanes, the Carolina Hurricanes, the Charlotte Hornets, or an event at the Charlotte Motor Speedway over the weekend.

Take a look at the list below for the most common bet types.

  • Moneyline: standard wager on the winner of a contest; odds are displayed as negative for the favored team or as positive for the underdog.
  • Spread: This is very common in football. It is a wager on the difference between the winning team and the losing team, typically termed “covering the spread.”
  • Total: A bet on a contest’s collective number of points. It is popular in football and increasingly popular in basketball. The total is denoted as the “over”, meaning more than the expected total, or the “under”, meaning less than the expected total. In rare cases, when the total is exactly as expected, it’s a push, and you’ll get your money back.
  • Live betting: This is a newer addition to sports betting markets in the US. Basically, you’re placing bets during a contest rather than before. Often, it can be on specific player stats or something larger, like a team winning a specific quarter or half.
  • Micro-betting: As noted, this is directly related to live betting; like it sounds, it is just wagering on smaller markets, so it can be something as innocuous as the number of free throws a specific player shoots or the number of touchdowns a player catches in a quarter.

Daily Fantasy Sports in North Carolina

Daily Fantasy Sports is legal in North Carolina, with well-known operators like DraftKings and Underdog already in play.

The structure of DFS will be familiar to experienced players, but for those not in the know, DFS is a legal alternative to traditional sports betting. The sports betting world is a mess with legislative hurdles and legal hangups. Many states require a partnership with tribal casinos or other venues for retail sports betting or online sports betting.

Procuring online sports betting licenses requires time and capital, which some operators lack. Thus, DFS becomes a good option for both companies and players. From the company’s perspective, DFS does not adhere to the same regulations as online betting because it is largely under the purview of state lottery commissions rather than specific state gambling commissions.

For players, DFS is an excellent alternative to retail sportsbooks or online sports betting because you can make your picks or hone in some bets, sometimes for real money, sometimes for credits, with lower stakes.

With the launch of online sports betting in North Carolina, sports betting will become more prominent, but DFS is still a solid option for players in the Tar Heel State and elsewhere.

North Carolina Sports Teams to Bet On

With North Carolina bettors clamoring to take advantage of the varied promotional options, it’s worthwhile to review the sports wagering options, whether college sports betting or professional.

Notably, North Carolina bettors are in a unique position compared to other states with legal sports betting, specifically in college sports betting, as they can place player props.

Take a look at the North Carolina teams that you can now bet on.

Carolina Panthers (NFL)

The Panthers are the only professional NFL football team in the Carolinas, so they draw a ton of attention. The struggles in recent years have not decreased the fanbase’s support.

In semi-recent history, the Panthers faced off against the Broncos in Super Bowl 50 but fell to Peyton Manning and the Broncos. Before that, Jake Delhomme, Steve Smith, and company brought the Panthers to Super Bowl 38 but fell to the Patriots in one of the most exciting games in recent years.

In 2023, they failed to make the playoffs with a rough 2-15 record.

Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)

Unexpectedly, based on climate, at least, the Hurricanes are quite a staple in North Carolina, no pun intended. They officially launched in the 1970s, though they played in New England under a different name.

The ‘Canes made waves in North Carolina sports in 1997 and have endured some success, winning the Stanley Cup in 2005-2006 and racking up two conference championships and six divisional championships, with the most recent coming in 2022-2023.

The ‘Canes have performed well in the current season, sitting second in the Metropolitan Division.

Charlotte Hornets (NBA)

The Hornets are one of the NBA’s stepchildren. Initially, Charlotte had the Hornets, with Dell Curry splashing threes and Larry Johnson slamming windmills. Then, in 2004, they were renamed the Bobcats, with Gonzaga sensation Adam Morrison making waves, but that was short-lived.

In 2014, they were renamed in a strange swap with New Orleans as the Hornets.

They haven’t made much noise in the NBA since then, but the addition of young phenom LaMelo Ball has undoubtedly upped the ticket price. That said, any team with Michael Jordan at the helm stands a good chance at success.

UNC Tar Heels

The Tar Heels are the bread and butter of North Carolina. Their storied rivalry with Duke (see below) has been the subject of many articles, documentaries, and undoubtedly a few sports bets.

The focus is basketball, but the football team has played well recently. UNC Basketball has had far too many legends and successes to list in full. Still, just a couple to satiate any curious readers are Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Bobby Jones, Kenny Smith, Rick Fox, Vince Carter, Harrison Barnes, and so many more.

Oh yeah, not to mention legendary head coaches Roy Williams and Dean Smith.

To date, the UNC Tar Heels have won six national championships.

Duke Blue Devils

Duke is kind of the heel to UNC’s hero. The mid-90s was arguably the height of their rivalry, but there’s plenty of bad blood to this day.

It’s hard not to think of Mike Krzyzewski (commonly known as Coach K) when talking about Duke, but the extensive list of accolades extends beyond his tenure.

The Blue Devils have won five national championships, all under Coach K. The lengthy list of NBA players features more recent additions like Kyrie Irving and Brandon Ingram, but legends like Christian Laettner are still beloved.

While the basketball team is still top-billing, the football and baseball teams have garnered some attention.

North Carolina Sports Betting Sites FAQ

Readers may have lingering questions about North Carolina sports betting, North Carolina sportsbooks, or online betting in general. We’ll try to address those questions in full in the subsections below.

Is sports betting legal in North Carolina?

As of March 11, online sports betting is entirely legal in North Carolina, and users can choose from several different operators.

Who regulates sports betting in North Carolina?

North Carolina sports betting is regulated by the North Carolina Lottery Commission.

How old do you have to be to bet in North Carolina?

To be eligible to sign up for a sportsbook and wager, you must be 21 or older and present within state limits. If you’re 21 or older and visiting the Tar Heel State but don’t live in-state, you can still sign up and bet, with full access to all available markets while you’re within state limits.

Once you get to your home state, you won’t be able to bet anymore, but you can still withdraw any potential winnings.

Can I bet online in North Carolina?

Absolutely, you can. Sign up with one of the sportsbooks outlined above and make a cash deposit. Then, you’ll be ready to wager.

What sports can I bet on in North Carolina?

While the specific sports may vary slightly from one sportsbook to the next, you’ll generally have access to both professional and collegiate basketball, football, baseball, and soccer.

As noted above, North Carolina is somewhat unique in allowing player props on college sports betting, which is not true in all states that allow online sports betting.

What NC betting sites can I use?

The best options are the NC betting sites outlined above — FanDuel, Fanatics Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook, BetMGM, bet365, ESPN BET, DraftKings, and Underdog Sports.

Gambling Problem? Call 877-718-5543 or access North Carolina voluntary self-exclusion.

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