Applications for North Carolina sports betting licenses haven’t been out for even a week, and there’s substantial interest among operators already.
During Wednesday’s North Carolina State Lottery Commission’s Sports Betting Committee meeting, Sterl Carpenter, the lottery’s deputy executive director for gaming compliance and sports betting, told members that 11 operators have requested license applications. That’s in addition to requests made by 24 suppliers and eight service providers.
For now, Carpenter said the lottery will focus on working with the operators because of the investigations and required materials that are part of that license application.
“We want to stress that Dec. 27 (application deadline) is directed mainly at the operators due to... the enormity of what they have to provide for us,” he added. “We will give everyone the attention that they will need, but right now, our attention is with the operators.”
Operators submitting their applications by that date will be guaranteed to launch on the first day of North Carolina statewide sports betting, pending the lottery’s approval.
Partnership Required For North Carolina Sports Betting Operators
To be approved for a license, North Carolina law requires sports betting operators to have a partnership in place with either one of the state’s major professional teams, one of the state’s racetracks that host a NASCAR race, a golf course hosting an annual PGA Tour event, the PGA Tour or NASCAR. Already, Bet365 has announced it will partner with the Charlotte Hornets, and ESPN Bet will partner with Quail Hollow Club, which hosts the PGA’s Wells Fargo Championship.
Besides the two sports organizations, other licenses will be available through partnerships with the Carolina Panthers (NFL), Carolina Hurricanes (NHL), NC Courage (NWSL), Charlotte FC (MLS), Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro (PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship), North Wilkesboro Speedway (NASCAR All-Star Race) and Charlotte Motor Speedway (NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 and Bank of America ROVAL 400).
If all of those entities or facilities land a partner, then that would enable 11 operators to seek licensure. Should either Charlotte or Raleigh eventually land an MLB franchise, that team also would be eligible to partner with a sports betting operator.
While the application deadline has been set for Dec. 27, North Carolina lottery officials have not yet announced when approved sports betting operators or NC sportsbook apps would be able to launch. Lottery Commission Chair Ripley Rand has confirmed, though, that sports betting will not be available in time for the Feb. 11 Super Bowl.
Naming Rights Ban Removed
The sports betting committee also reviewed proposed rules that lottery staffers drafted last month. After receiving public comments, staffers recommended some revisions that the committee approved. One such change was striking down a proposed rule that would have banned sports betting operators from acquiring naming rights at venues across the state.
“We decided that this was not consistent with other kinds of changes we’re making concerning static branding and the sort of things like logos that don’t otherwise have an inducement to wagering as part of their message,” Deputy General Counsel Eric Snider explained.
The amended draft rules will now go before the full commission for their consideration.
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