The North Carolina State Lottery Commission has called a special meeting for Wednesday, with “sports betting authorization” listed as the only action item planned.
Details on what exactly that means remain unclear, but the meeting, announced Monday afternoon, comes as lottery officials have been reviewing applications from those seeking North Carolina sports betting operator licenses. It also comes as the applicants have been asked to work on presenting other documents and processes that would allow the state regulator to give approved applicants a certificate of compliance.
North Carolina has not yet announced a launch date. While Gov. Roy Cooper has repeatedly said he wants sports betting to start in time for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, lottery officials have called on applicants to provide the requested information promptly so the state’s regulatory body can establish when online gaming can commence.
For example, commission officials have requested applicants submit their proposed internal controls processes by this Friday.
“Staff is working to get sports betting up and running as soon as possible,” Van Denton, the lottery commission’s director of communications, told BetCarolina.com on Monday when asked about Wednesday’s meeting. “Commission will look at the next steps needed to accomplish that.”
Nine Seeking Operator Licenses
Nine entities have applied for North Carolina sports betting operator licenses. Bet365, BetMGM North Carolina, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics, FanDuel and Underdog all submitted their applications by the lottery’s Dec. 27 recommended deadline to have their applications reviewed in time so those approved would be eligible to accept wagers on the first day mobile sports betting is allowed.
The state’s two tribal gaming nations, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Catawba Nation, have also since applied. Caesars, which operates EBCI’s two casinos, has applied for a service provider license. Officials with Catawba say they are reviewing options and have indicated they will likely enter online sports betting at a later date.
Each North Carolina tribal casino already has a brick-and-mortar sportsbook thanks to a 2019 law. Commercial operators can also open a retail facility with their sports betting partners, but lottery officials have said those will open later.
Those approved for North Carolina betting apps licenses will pay a $1 million fee and must pay $1 million to renew them every five years. Online operator revenues will be taxed at 18%, with proceeds covering regulatory and administration expenses, problem and responsible gambling education and treatment, youth and collegiate sports and a “major events” fund. Half of the tax revenue will go to the North Carolina general fund.
BetCarolina.com will be your source for the best North Carolina sportsbook promos. Bookmark our site and visit regularly for the latest news developments as well as reviews of approved operators.
