North Carolina Sports Betting: Best Legal Sportsbooks

Is sports betting legal in North Carolina?

Yes. North Carolina first legalised sports wagering in 2019, but only at tribal casinos operated by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the Catawba Nation, which began taking bets in 2021. In 2023 the General Assembly passed House Bill 347, which opened the door to statewide mobile betting, and online sportsbooks launched on 11 March 2024, just in time for March Madness.

The North Carolina Lottery Commission licenses and regulates online operators. The minimum age is 21, and you must be physically inside North Carolina when you bet.

Retail betting at tribal casinos

Online betting gets most of the attention, but North Carolina's tribal casinos still run in-person sportsbooks. Harrah's Cherokee and Harrah's Cherokee Valley River in the west, and the Catawba Nation's Two Kings Casino near Kings Mountain, take wagers on site. These venues fall under tribal regulation rather than the Lottery Commission's online rules, so house rules on limits and markets may differ from what you see in an app. For many western North Carolina residents, a trip to Cherokee pairs a sportsbook visit with the casino floor and the Great Smoky Mountains.

Licensed sportsbooks we review in North Carolina

Two of the three US sportsbooks we rank, BetMGM and bet365, are licensed in North Carolina. BetRivers is not listed for the state on this site, so it is excluded from our North Carolina rankings. Having two of our ranked brands available means North Carolina bettors can at least compare prices on the same game before committing their stake.

Geolocation applies across the state, including near the South Carolina and Virginia borders. South Carolina has no legal sports betting, so anyone driving north from Charlotte's southern suburbs should make sure the app confirms their location before trying to bet.

• Regulator: North Carolina Lottery Commission
• Online launch: 11 March 2024
• Minimum age: 21
• Licensed brands we rank: BetMGM, bet365

College sports and the betting debate

College basketball is close to a religion in North Carolina, with Duke, UNC, NC State and Wake Forest all within a short drive of one another, and bets on these teams are allowed. Lawmakers have filed bills to ban player props on college athletes, but as of our latest review none had become law, so check the menu in your app for current options.

North Carolina treats gambling winnings as taxable income, and sportsbooks will issue federal tax forms on qualifying wins.

Panthers, Hurricanes and responsible play

Beyond the college game, the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Hornets and the Stanley Cup-winning Carolina Hurricanes give bettors plenty to follow, along with NASCAR's deep roots in the state. If you choose to bet, set deposit limits from the start. North Carolina's Problem Gambling Program offers free help, and 1-800-GAMBLER is available around the clock.