The online launch of North Carolina sports betting is fast approaching. It goes live on Monday, March 11, at noon ET, but there’s still time to sign up early and claim NC pre-launch offers from online sportsbooks that are getting set to make their debuts in the state.
To legally accept online bets in North Carolina, sportsbooks need to verify that the people placing those bets are located within the borders of the state. That verification will involve geolocation in NC. Let’s take a closer look at geolocation and what you need to do before placing your bets in the state.
Sports betting geolocation explained
Online sportsbooks in the US must verify that users are within the confines of a state where betting is legal before they accept wagers from those users. Sportsbooks use geolocation tracking software to do so. It’s the same story in North Carolina. Before you place a bet in the state, the sportsbook will verify that you are where you say you are.
Sportsbooks use providers such as GeoComply to assist with geolocating. Once you log in to a sportsbook website or app for the first time, you’ll be prompted to allow tracking and verification of your location. If you don’t allow it, you won’t be able to bet at that sportsbook.
The software then runs in the background. As long as you’re within the borders of a state where the sportsbook is legal and you have allowed geolocation, you will be able to place your bets. If there’s any trouble verifying your location, you’ll receive a notification. For those who run into this situation, reach out to customer support at your sportsbook of choice to help resolve the issue.
What are the other rules for sports betting in NC?
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper signed a bill allowing sports betting in the state into law in June 2023. A round of modifications in the fall of that year added the requirement for each sportsbook to have a deal in place with a pro sports organization, sports venue, or tribe located in the state.
Here’s a quick rundown of some of the major points to keep in mind to legally bet on sports in North Carolina:
- You must be 21 or older to bet on sports in North Carolina.
- Betting on college sports is legal.
- The state does not impose any restrictions on wagering on in-state teams.
- You can’t bet on high school sports in NC.
- The state prohibits betting on politics and entertainment-related events such as the Oscars.
When does North Carolina sports betting go live?
North Carolina online sports betting goes live on Monday, March 11, at noon ET. The state announced the official launch date in January, along with a preregistration period that began on March 1. Sports betting is going live in NC just in time for March Madness, with wagering legal on both college sports in general and local schools.
Looking ahead to the rest of the spring sports betting calendar, other wagering events will include MLB opening day for action at baseball betting sites, the NFL draft, and the NBA playoffs. You’ll be able to bet on all of them and much more in NC.
How many online sportsbooks are coming to North Carolina?
When online sports betting launches in North Carolina, as many as nine sports betting apps could be available immediately. State law allows up to 11 online sportsbooks (one for each approved sports organization, venue, and tribe). Seven online sportsbooks have received licenses to date.
Several of the sportsbooks that are getting set to go live have pre-launch promotions available to new users in North Carolina. Click any of the links below to learn more about those sportsbooks and available NC bonuses and promos:
