Fanatics on Friday announced it found its North Carolina sports betting partner as the online retailer’s sportsbook signed a deal with the Carolina Hurricanes.
A Fanatics spokesperson confirmed the partnership with the NHL franchise on Friday, originally reported by Sports Business Journal. The agreement, subject to Fanatics being approved by the North Carolina State Lottery Commission, is the fourth reached between an operator and an eligible rights holder.
MORE: Latest on NHL Betting
Partnership Required
North Carolina lawmakers passed House Bill 347 in June to legalize sports betting. In September, when they approved the state’s budget in September, they revised the law to mandate any operator interested in a North Carolina sports betting license must enter into an agreement with one of the state’s major professional sports franchises, one of its golf courses that holds an annual PGA Tour event, one of its racetracks hosting an annual NASCAR event, NASCAR itself or the PGA Tour itself. North Carolina’s tribal gaming operators, which already have brick-and-mortar sportsbooks at their casinos, may also partner with an operator.
Those previously announced include bet365 with the Charlotte Hornets, ESPN BET North Carolina with Quail Hollow Club and FanDuel with the PGA Tour. Operators may also establish brick-and-mortar sportsbooks at or near arenas, stadiums and racetracks.
The commission has yet to set a date for when North Carolina betting apps can begin taking wagers. Still, interested applicants must submit their applications by Dec. 27 if they want to be eligible to go live on the first day.
About Fanatics
If approved, Fanatics Sportsbook North Carolina will be available to sports bettors via the operator’s mobile app. A retail sportsbook may open at or near PNC Arena, the Hurricane home in Raleigh. The 25-year-old arena is scheduled to undergo a $300 million makeover in the next few years, with initial work set to begin next year.
For online bettors, Fanatics touts a “curated” experience that allows users to better view betting markets tailored to their interests and previous wagers.
Fanatics also offers its customers FanCash, a bonus tied to the amount they wager and the types of wagers they make. Bettors can receive up to 5% in FanCash for a wager, with that available as a bonus bet or a discount on merchandise at a Fanatics website.
