First Set of North Carolina Sports Betting Rules Introduced by Committee

Jul 5, 2023; Sacramento, CA, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) stands on the court after the game against the Golden State Warriors at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY SportsThe North Carolina sports betting committee met for the first timeThe committee unanimously approved a first set of North Carolina sports betting rules and final approval is slated for early NovemberAdditional rules and procedures will be approved before the state launches sports betting

The newly formed North Carolina sports betting committee met publicly today for the first time and unanimously approved an initial set of the state’s sports betting rules.

Sterl Carpenter, North Carolina’s deputy executive director of gaming compliance and sports betting, walked the committee through the state’s first 48 sports betting and pari-mutuel rules. Most of the proposed rules were general housekeeping matters, definitions, licensing and general provisions, and technical necessities before the more specific rules could be discussed.

Before the committee can fully approve these 48 initial rules, a public hearing will be held on Friday, Oct. 27, at 9 a.m. in Raleigh, North Carolina. Public comments submitted online will be accepted through Wednesday, Nov. 1.

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Just the Beginning of the Process

Carpenter stressed that these initial rules are only a portion of what his staff is working on to get North Carolina sports betting off the ground. Everything being done now, he said, is to ensure sports betting launches by the statutory deadline of June 15, 2024.

A second wave of rules will likely be presented to the committee at the start of November, Carpenter said. Additionally, the committee members will also be presented with the sports betting operator application form for approval in early November. One addition to the applications, Carpenter said, will be a “written designation agreement” for operators to complete due to the recent sports betting bill changes.

The newly approved North Carolina budget included modifications to the sports betting bill, which now requires each sports betting operator to have a “written designation agreement” with a professional sports franchise, owner of a sports facility, motor sports facility, NASCAR track, or PGA Tour course in the state.

Public comments on this first approved batch of rules will be gathered from the Oct. 27 hearing and presented to the committee members and North Carolina Lottery Commissioners. They will be reviewed and the committee members will be able to suggest amendments prior to a final vote.

North Carolina Sports Betting Timeline

North Carolina sports betting can launch as early as Jan. 8, 2024, or as late as June 15, 2024.

The commission must still draft sports betting rules and regulations, begin accepting sports betting license applications, and award those licenses before it can begin to formulate a launch date. It has started the process with the initial approval of 48 rules today.

To help educate North Carolina residents on the timeline, licensing, and where sports betting revenue is distributed, the commission has published a new website to help provide information for interested individuals.