The start of legal sports betting in North Carolina will unfortunately not be in time for the Super Bowl, purely based on the state’s timeline for regulations. North Carolina Lottery Commission Chairman Ripley Rand revealed during a public meeting Wednesday that despite the interest, the launch date for betting simply won’t align with the big event. If all goes well, it would be late February or beyond until sports betting would be live.
Last year, North Carolina legalized sports betting, but the ongoing requirements around the application process and proposed rules have pushed back any sort of go-live date to be announced after applications are submitted.
Process to Begin
During a meeting, the Lottery Commission greenlit application procedures for sportsbook operators seeking to enter the North Carolina market. The meticulous procedure will mean that an application portal will be added to the state’s sports betting website soon. There is also the condition of reaching agreements with North Carolina’s professional sports teams and major venues before sportsbooks can open.
Looking Ahead
Chairman Rand shared that the announcement of a go-live date would be contingent on different critical factors linked to the application process and regulatory requirements that need to be met. It is anticipated that it won’t be too long before a go-live date for legal sports betting in North Carolina is announced.