North Carolina: Eight sportsbook operators likely to get licensed before launch date

Of the nine sports betting operators who submitted applications to offer sports betting services in North Carolina, eight are likely to get their licenses before the Tar Heel State launches its market on March 11, according to the North Carolina Sports Betting Committee. 

Briefing the committee on the status of the licensing process, Sterl Carpenter, deputy executive director of gaming compliance and sports betting, said that eight applicants are advancing towards obtaining their licenses by March 1, the start date to begin registering new users.

Evaluation of the license applications for the nine operators is currently underway. The applicants and their corresponding market access partners are listed as follows:

• bet365 NC: Charlotte Hornets
• BetMGM NC: Charlotte Motor Speedway
• Catawba Two Kings Casino: No partnership disclosed
• DraftKings NC: NASCAR
• Fanatics Betting and Gaming: Carolina Hurricanes
• FanDuel NC: PGA Tour
• PENN Sports Interactive (ESPN BET NC): Quail Hollow Club (PGA Tour course)
• Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise Cherokee: Caesars Sportsbook NC
• Underdog Sports: McConnell Golf
  
  

It is anticipated that the Catawba Two Kings Casino may not be operational by the March 11 launch date. 

Before licenses are awarded, operators must acquire their certificates of compliance, which are likely to be issued before Friday, March 1, the date in which North Carolina operators can begin accepting new player registrations.

The committee also sanctioned a voluntary sports betting exclusion program. This program empowers North Carolina residents to self-exclude from sports betting for a predetermined duration or opt for a permanent ban.

Further, the committee reported that seven sports betting supplier licenses have already been conferred in North Carolina. These license holders, while not engaged in bet acceptance, provide integrity services, content, and data within the state. These licenses hold a validity period of 180 days.

The following companies have been granted supplier licenses:

• SportContentCo, LLC
• SIS Content Services, Inc.
• Swish Analytics North Carolina, Inc.
• Idology, Inc.
• LexisNexis Risk Solutions FL, Inc.
• International Betting Integrity Association
• FEMG,CO

Carpenter revealed that two additional supplier licenses are pending announcement, awaiting finalization.