North Carolina residents can now legally place bets on professional and college sports events at licensed gambling establishments. Gov. Roy Cooper signed North Carolina’s new sports betting law on Wednesday, joining other states which have legalized this activity. Under its provisions, gambling companies must perform an audit of their financial controls, security plans, and responsible gaming plans; residents may place sports bets online or at eight physical sportsbooks close to professional sports venues like PNC Arena in Raleigh and Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
North Carolina does not yet offer licensed and regulated online casinos; however, lawmakers could attempt to introduce such legislation during the 2024 legislative session. Residents of North Carolina can still enjoy casino-like experiences through social and sweepstakes websites that provide chances to win virtual currencies that can later be redeemed for real cash prizes. The best social and sweepstakes casinos feature high-level graphics, animation, and sound that provides players an immersive gaming experience similar to playing real money slots or other casino games.
State residents in North Carolina enjoy three tribal casinos offering slots, blackjack, roulette and other traditional casino games such as lottery. These establishments are overseen by the Bureau of Indian Affairs within the US Department of Interior which approves tribal-state compacts and oversees their operations. In addition, NC also regulates its Education Lottery and sports betting, taxing winnings back into education programs; furthermore the Alcohol Law Enforcement Agency enforces state gambling laws prohibiting illegal activities.
State lawmakers have generally taken an uncompromising stance against casino gambling, yet there has been some progress toward legalizing it. A bill to legalize retail sports betting at two casinos gained support in the House last year and will return for consideration in 2024. If passed into law it would allow sports wagering on individual sporting events, portions of sporting events, individual player performance statistics and player player statistics.
Another bill before the state House would legalize daily fantasy sports. This legislation has bipartisan support and 19 cosponsors in the Senate. These bills would create a regulatory framework for this activity by setting minimum age requirements and verifying player identities; responding to complaints within 72 hours; disclosing revenue to state regulators; as well as responding within that timeframe when complaints come in from players or operators.
North Carolina stands out as one of the few states that taxes gambling winnings, providing an additional disincentive for problem gamblers. Furthermore, its gambling commission provides resources for prevention, intervention and treatment of problem gambling issues. On its website, the state provides guidance on how to report winnings from gambling and file taxes, while its education system offers lessons regarding money management. Educators hope that their efforts will enable students to recognize the dangers associated with problem gambling and make informed choices regarding their gambling activities. In addition, the state lottery has formed partnerships with organizations like National Council on Problem Gambling and Center for Responsible Gaming that offer resources for its customers.