Caesars Entertainment is the first company to offer legal sports betting online in North Carolina. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has partnered with Caesars Entertainment in order to roll out the sportsbook.
North Carolina will not launch legalized sports betting in full until the 11th of March. Caesars has been able to launch ahead of the 11 March date due to its deal with the Tribe and the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
Two Cherokee casinos, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino Hotel, allow players to place wagers. On the tribal land of Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, betting is permitted.
When the online market launches fully next week, Caesars will extend its sports betting service to all of North Carolina. Since a few years the operator has operated retail sportsbooks throughout the state. The online service is a complement to these.
Caesars Digital President Eric Hession stated, “We are grateful to have the opportunity to provide wagering on the Harrah’s Cherokee properties, as part of the long-standing relationship we share with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. With the sports calendar heating, there’s a lot of excitement.”
Thank you to National Indian Gaming Commission for making today possible. Also, thank you to Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and North Carolina State Lottery Commission’s Sports Betting Committee.
Michell Hicks is also pleased with the new launch. Michell Hicks, the principal of Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, also welcomed the launch.
Hicks stated that the relationship between Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Caesars Entertainment and the company has grown and improved over the years. We are excited to bring mobile sports betting in North Carolina. It will be a new and exciting experience for all sports enthusiasts.
North Carolina sports betting to launch in one week
Sports betting is well underway in North Carolina. With only one week until the market opens up, everything has been prepared.
In June 2023, when Governor Roy Cooper signed House Bill 34 into law, he approved a schedule for its implementation. North Carolina must publish its regulations by 8 January 2024, and all operators who accept wagers have to do so before June 14, 2024.
North Carolina has met its regulations guidelines. Operators will begin taking wagers before the June deadline. The operators were given until 26th January to complete their internal control procedures before launching.
In North Carolina the first batch of licenses was also approved last week. Among those who were successful, there were some major players. The State Lottery Commission of North Carolina awarded eight licences for interactive sports betting.
FanDuel DraftKings Fanatics Bet365 BetMGM ESPN Bet Underdog and Underdog all received licenses.
Who has partnered up with whom?
In order to be able to provide sports betting, operators must have a partnership with either a North Carolina sports team or league. All licensees have secured a sports team, league or venue in North Carolina.
DraftKings has partnered up with Nascar, a stock car racing series. BetMGM is in partnership with Charlotte Motor Speedway. ESPN Bet entered North Carolina after signing a PGA Tour agreement to be the official betting operator of the Wells Fargo Championship held in North Carolina. FanDuel has also partnered with the PGA Tour in order to enter North Carolina.
Fanatics Betting and Gaming has also partnered with NHL Carolina Hurricanes. Fanatics will become the official partner of Carolina Hurricanes. Bet365 has signed a deal to partner with NBA team Charlotte Hornets. The partnership will take place in November 2023.
Underdog also expanded its role as an operator of fantasy sports via a partnership McConnell Golf.
In addition to operator licenses, sports betting supplier licences were also approved. GeoComply SBTech Sportradar are among the successful applicants.
