North Carolina introduced online sports betting in March 2024, giving citizens access to several of the most productive betting sites. It is now imaginable to legally bet on professional and school sports in the Tar Heel State.
With several top online sportsbooks now available in North Carolina, residents can sign up for some of the best ones in the country, many of which have special NC sports betting promos for new customers.
Choosing a sportsbook can seem daunting, which is why we’ve combined an advisor from the most successful sports apps in the state.
Yes, sports betting is legal in North Carolina. The state legalized retail and online sports betting with the passage of HB 347 in June 2023, online sports betting was not officially approved until March 2024.
North Carolina is one of the last states to legalize sports betting, as it took several years to do so after the U. S. Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in May 2018.
As long as you are at least 21 years old and physically located in North Carolina, you can legally bet on sports there.
Here’s what to look for when deciding whether to sign up for an online sportsbook in North Carolina.
With that in mind, let’s dive into the online sportsbooks in North Carolina that meet our recommended criteria for your sports betting experience. All of the following sportsbooks rate highly for the aforementioned criteria, so you can’t go wrong with any of them.
https://www.forbes.com/betting/sports-betting/best-dfs-daily-fantasy-sports-apps/DraftKings is one of the biggest and most popular online sportsbooks in the U.S. It launched in North Carolina when sports betting went live there in March 2024 and is partnered with NASCAR.
One of the most productive daily fantasy sports (DFS) operators, DraftKings also offers an impressive diversity of betting markets, especially prop bets and futures. It offers odds boosts, a fake rewards program, and a Parlay Builder tool that makes it easy to combine multiple bets into one. It also has an interesting registration offer for new customers.
DraftKings is the official betting partner of the UFC if you’re interested in wagering on MMA.
FanDuel went live in North Carolina the same day that mobile sports betting launched in the state and is DraftKings’ top rival in terms of market share. It is an official sports betting partner of the Carolina Panthers.
Like DraftKings, FanDuel earned a reputation as a leading DFS site before sports became legal in the United States in 2018. It is now one of the most productive online sports sites on the market.
FanDuel stands out with its sleek, easy-to-use app, which many bettors consider the best in the industry. It also has daily promotions/odds boosts, a strong welcome offer and good customer service.
BetMGM is very stylish with ads featuring A-list celebrities like Jamie Foxx. It was introduced in North Carolina the same day online sports launched there and is partnered with Charlotte Motor Speedway.
As the sports wing of MGM, BetMGM lives up to the hype. It offers an impressive diversity of markets, as well as strong promotions and visitor service, as well as odds increases common to local teams.
Like DraftKings, BetMGM makes it easy to build your own parlays and same-game parlays with its “Build Parlay” button under each sporting event.
BetMGM also has an exclusive “Edit My Bet” feature that allows bettors to adjust eligible bets even after the game has started.
Caesars arrived in North Carolina the same day online sports betting debuted there. Users immediately noticed their significant increases in odds, with dozens submitted each day across all sports.
Caesars has plenty of regular bets, too. It has a vast menu of betting markets and options, plus an enticing welcome offer. It also has a strong rewards program and frequent promotions for loyal customers along with a “FireBets” feature that makes live betting quick and easy.
The interface also makes it easy to locate bets and prop bets, making Caesars a fun experience for sports bettors.
Fanatics is one of the newest sportsbooks on the market and will debut in 2023 after merging with PointsBet. It was introduced in North Carolina on the same day as online sports and is associated with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Fanatics has a modern mobile app with pre-set odds increases and bets. It also tailors the homepage based on your behavior and betting history so you can seamlessly locate your favorite sports and bet types.
Fanatics’ biggest merit might be its generous rewards program, which provides bettors with a percentage of each and every bet on FanCash. FanCash can then be used for bonus bets at sports betting sites or as credits on the Fanatics retail website, where you can purchase merchandise and apparel from your favorite teams.
Founded in 2000, the British company Bet365 is one of the sports betting houses in the world with more than 90 million customers. It expanded to the United States and was introduced in North Carolina in March 2024.
Bet365, wife of the Charlotte Hornets, offers an exclusive welcome offer, as well as a varied menu of markets and accessories. It offers tons of foreign markets, making it a wonderful option for bettors who like to bet on specialty sports or foreign markets like cricket or football.
One of the newest sportsbooks on the scene, ESPN BET debuted in November 2023 after rebranding from Barstool Sportsbook. It arrived in North Carolina four months later when online sports betting officially launched there.
ESPN BET has everything you’d expect from a modern sportsbook, adding a blank app, fast loading times and extensive markets.
There are exclusive odds boosts at ESPN BET as well, many of which have fun tie-ins to ESPN personalities. ESPN BET also has good promotions, including a strong welcome offer for new customers.
ESPN BET is partnered with Quail Hollow Club and the Wells Fargo Championship – a PGA Tour event held at the venue.
We’ve taken the time to sample and research numerous sportsbooks, narrowing down a list of the best in the industry. These rankings can help you decide which ones to try first in North Carolina.
Our rankings are based on scores in the following categories:
Below, we’ll break down each category and why it’s important to your sports betting experience.
A quick and easy way to get a sense of a sportsbook’s quality is by comparing user reviews on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play Store (Android). Since ratings are out of five stars, you’ll generally want a sportsbook that’s well-regarded with an average score of at least four stars.
You can also take a look at the quick user reviews to get an idea of what other people are saying about the app and if there are any recurring court cases or issues. This can be useful for features that are difficult to compare until you use the app, such as delay or visitor service.
Many reviewers are here to complain, so don’t take too much stock in quick reviews.
That said, if you notice common themes throughout the comments, consider it a warning for issues you may encounter with the app.
Each state handles sports differently. Some states allow sportsArray in person and on mobile devices, while others would only allow in-person sports or impose a strict limit on the number of mobile sports allowed.
As a result, sports betting varies by state, as both states will have to approve a sportsbook before it can be introduced there. There is no bookmaker in one or both states that offers legal online sports betting, however, some have been introduced in most of them.
Generally speaking, the more states a sportsbook can have, the better. This means you’re more likely to have it in your state, a neighboring state, or a state you’re likely to go to, making it less difficult and more convenient to use. This way, you can take your sportsbook with you instead of having to sign up for a new one every time you leave your state.
While smaller “local” sportsbooks usually offer profit boosts and other bonuses based on hometown teams, they’re usually only available in a handful of states at most, offering limited availability.
This is an important one. How much free money will a sportsbook give you for signing up?
Most sportsbooks have welcome offers to entice new customers, but it’s important to know how these offers work. Just because an offer has a higher dollar amount attached to it doesn’t necessarily make it better.
Some betting houses offer promotions of “bet and get” in which you get bonus bets (site credit) only for a small amount of cash. For example, you can get $ 200 in bonus bets just by making a $ 5 bet. Basically you get money loose by Array
Other bookmakers offer “hassle-free” offers that offer a bonus bet if you lose your first bet.
For example, if you place a $20 bet after signing up and lose, you will get a $20 bonus bet that will be refunded.
These offers tend to impress bettors with larger amounts than “bet and get” promotions, going up to $1,000 or $1,500. However, you will only get a bonus bet if you lose your first bet, in which case you will have to use the bonus bet to pay out and get your coins back. If your bet wins, you will get your winnings in coins as a general bet but you will not get any bonus.
As a result, “no sweat” offers are not as smart as “bet and get” promotions.
When comparing sports betting, it is most productive to opt for welcome offers with guaranteed bonuses that give you credits on your site no matter what.
The duration of the bonus will be offered if it is difficult to claim.
The best sports bonus offers are as undeniable to claim as they are generous, being undeniable and straightforward without needing to overcome any hurdles.
The best bonuses are guaranteed and hit your account instantly as soon as you place your first bet. They’ll also be easy to follow and won’t require you to check a bunch of boxes to get your bonus.
Some sportsbook bonus offers require you to make multiple wagers or wait days or weeks to unlock your full bonus. This can be inconvenient, especially if you’re trying to get your full bonus ahead of a major sporting event like the Super Bowl or March Madness.
More complex offers can be a pain, so we prefer simplified offers with fewer requirements.
If you bet often and are planning to use a sportsbook frequently, a strong rewards program is essential.
Loyalty systems differ depending on sports betting. Some offer you praise points for betting, which can then be converted into bonus bets or other praise. Others offer wonderful compliments like free trips, hotel stays, tickets to sporting events, and more.
On the other hand, some betting houses do not offer any rewards. This may not be a big deal for casual bettors, but it can make a difference for regular sports bettors.
It’s like paying for anything with money other than a credit card. If you place a bet on one site without a loyalty program, you’ll lose problems elsewhere.
While the biggest sports, such as football or basketball, can only be accessed through classic cable or streaming services, some bookmakers offer the option of streaming smaller sports on the app, which is a merit to bettors.
For example, FanDuel‘s app often streams tennis matches, which makes it easier to follow the action and place live wagers.
Beyond live broadcast, we also consider the duration of the transmission, the amount of battery used and the number of occasions available to transmit in the application.
Most bookmakers offer some form of welcome and offer to attract new customers, but what they differ from is their promotions for existing customers.
Some sports bets offer a multitude of daily promotions, such as ratings, hassle-free betting, bonus betting, and much more to retain consumers every day. Others offer them only in moderation, if not at all.
One key existing user promo to consider is the referral bonus. Many sportsbooks have some type of referral bonus for getting someone else to sign up, but the amount can differ ($50 per person, $100, $200, etc.). If you’re planning to bet with friends or family, this can be a great way to score bonus bets for you and them.
Similar to a rewards program, you need a sportsbook with common offers for existing consumers if you plan to bet regularly.
Solid visitor service features have to have it for any Lawyer Libra, as maximum disputes or appeals involve someone’s money.
High marks were given to all bookmakers that provide 24/7 visitor service (after all, sporting events end at night), while problems were deducted if a bookmaker relied on an FAQ page as a key component of your visitor service profile. The more functions there are to contact visitor service (email, chat, phone, etc. ), the better.
Customer support is essential to guaranteeing a smooth sports betting experience. If a problem arises, it’s important to have it handled quickly and effectively.
As in most states where sports betting is legal in North Carolina, you will need to be at least 21 years old and physically within state boundaries to bet on sports.
Sports verifies your age when you create an account by verifying your date of birth and social security number. They also check your position thanks to a geolocation tool.
If you are under 21 years of age or a resident of the state, you will not be able to create a sports betting account or place bets on a North Carolina user.
There are 8 online sports betting sites in North Carolina.
There are two ways you can place a sports bet in North Carolina.
One way is by signing up for one of the above sportsbooks on your mobile device. Once you’ve registered, verified your identity and deposited money in your account, you can wager on anything you want.
If you prefer to bet in person, you can also place a sports bet at one of the state’s retail sportsbooks/casinos.
Yes, mobile sports betting is legal in North Carolina, so you can bet from anywhere in the state. Online sports betting has been live in NC since March 2024.
To download a North Carolina sports app, go to the app store on your mobile device and download it from there. Once downloaded, provide the required non-public data to create an account.
Once your account is verified and you’ve made an initial deposit, you can start wagering on anything you want.
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