The North Carolina State Lottery Commission’s Sports Betting Advisory Committee unveiled more rules for North Carolina sports betting at a meeting Tuesday.
The new batch comes after the public comment period on the first set closed last week. The new set is available on the NC Lottery website and is open to public comment until November 27, with a public hearing November 20.
According to the online NC sports betting law, sportsbooks can go live as early as January 8, 2024, but no later than June 14, 2024. Tuesday’s meeting did not provide an update on a proposed launch date, but regulators previously said they want to roll out sportsbooks as close to January 8 as possible.
What’s in new set of betting rules?
The initial rules introduced last month largely consisted of definitions and other pieces laid out by the legislature in its law.
The new set largely includes rules about integrity monitoring, consumer protections and responsible gaming. It also details operator responsibilities.
One inclusion prohibits sportsbook operators from purchasing naming rights to sports facilities in the state, including areas within the facility such as luxury boxes.
Adding to NC sports betting rules
The agency closed its public comment period on the first round of rules November 1. Those proposed rules are also included in the second batch but are not open to public comment.
The most notable inclusion in the regulations was a ban on daily fantasy sports pick’em contests.
During the October 27 public hearing on the proposed rules, representatives for PrizePicks and Underdog were the only speakers.
North Carolina sports betting setup
In September, North Carolina lawmakers altered the sports betting license framework through amendments in the finalized state budget.
Rather than a cap of 12 untethered licenses, sportsbook operators will now need to partner with a professional sports organization in the state.
There are 11 organizations that qualify in North Carolina, but more could be added through sports expansion in the state.
North Carolina pushing ahead amid changes
Gov. Roy Cooper signed sports betting into law following a legislative push this spring. Lawmakers were close to passing sports betting in 2022.
With a mandate to start no earlier than January 8, 2024, regulators were relatively quiet this summer. Then, this fall, lawmakers changed up the licensing structure.
Since then, regulators have amped up their work with a desire to launch as closely to January 8 as possible. Multiple industry sources tell LSR they expect a launch in time for March Madness betting.
There are three in-person sportsbooks at tribal casinos in the Tar Heel State.
