There has been some movement in North Carolina sports wagering as the bet365 Sportsbook has announced a partnership with the Charlotte Hornets. Here are the latest details on the partnership and where North Carolina sports betting stands moving into 2024.
bet365 Sportsbook Partners with Charlotte Hornets
It looks like bet365 Sportsbook plans to make a splash in the state of North Carolina. The sportsbook recently partnered up with the NBA franchise the Charlotte Hornets. This makes bet365 the first operator in the state of North Carolina to be approved to operate in the state. At the moment, it’s the only sportsbook with a partnership in the state.
The deal allows bet365 to have branding inside of the Hornets’ arena as well as a license to offer online betting once it is officially live. The state still hasn’t announced a go-live date.
Sportsbooks Must Partner with Professional Teams or Facilities
According to the sports betting committee, regulations require sports betting operators to partner with professional sports teams or professional sports facilities including stadiums, racetracks, etc. The state is allowing for up to 12 sportsbook operators but bet365 is the first and only to be approved so far.
bet365 Continues to Grow in US
The bet365 Sportsbook is starting to make some noise across the United States. The operator is based in the United Kingdom but now has formed partnerships with five major professional sports teams in the United States. The sportsbook has gone live in Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, New Jersey, Ohio, and Virginia. Now, the state will be going live in North Carolina at some point in 2024.
What Sportsbooks Will Be Next?
As of now, bet365 is the lone wolf in the state with a partnership. That could change quickly as the likes of DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and more are likely in negotiations with professional teams or facilities in the state.
With 12 sports betting licenses available, sports bettors can expect to see the most popular sportsbooks available once the state is officially live.
Probably No North Carolina Sports Betting Launch in Jan.
The North Carolina Lottery Commission recently announced the state will likely not be ready for a January 2024 launch of sports betting. January 8 is the earliest date that online sports betting can go live according to the sports betting law that was passed back in June 2023.
The state of North Carolina is required by law to have online sports betting live by June 15, 2024. At a recent meeting, the sports betting commission said there were still several major hurdles to overcome before the state was ready to take online sports betting live.
There still hasn’t been an official date set for online sports betting to go live in North Carolina but the committee has passed several rules and regulations as it takes more steps to get the state off the ground.
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