North Carolina: Experts envision mobile-led sports betting market with retail locations in future plans

North Carolina sports betting, which is on the verge of being legalized, is expected to take place primarily through phones, with physical establishments anticipated by the end of the year. This forecast comes from sports betting experts who believe venues eligible to operate wagering services may offer a digital choice first, before adding a physical location.

The window for sports betting to become legal starts next Monday, January 8. However, state authorities have said that legalization is not expected to occur immediately, citing various pending issues that need to be addressed.

The list of companies seeking to operate interactive sports betting in North Carolina includes FanDuel, DraftKings, Fanatics, Bet365, ESPN Bet, and Underdog Sports. Although the online operations of these companies might start soon, physical establishments could take longer to launch.

“Some smaller operators, we still don’t know when (they’re) going to launch,” said Steve Bittenbender, with BetCarolina.com and the Gambling.com Group, as reported by Queen City News. “There may be things that open up a little bit later, mainly when the sport that’s in season starts."

Locations such as Bank of America Stadium, Spectrum Center, and Charlotte Motor Speedway, which are authorized to operate sports betting services, may initially offer a digital choice before opening physical facilities.

Seven operators have registered for sports betting licenses in the state before a December 27th deadline. The North Carolina Lottery Commission is set to continue accepting applications and may authorize up to a dozen mobile operators.

To obtain the necessary license, operators must form partnerships with professional teams, leagues, and venues in North Carolina. This requirement emerged following a change in the state budget, introduced months after the original sports betting law was passed by the state legislature.

The state’s Lottery officials are yet to share an official launch date for legal North Carolina sports betting apps. However, the go-live date will likely come before March Madness begins on March 19th.