Best North Carolina Sportsbooks

North Carolina is one of the states which has legalized online sports betting. Therefore, players in the state can easily engage in sports betting, whether that be on their phone or desktop device on the best North Carolina Sportsbooks. Due to its recent introduction within the state, there has been an influx of sportsbooks, which can be difficult to know which one to choose. For your benefit, our experts have put together this guide to help you navigate your way to the right sportsbook, where you can start placing your bets. Let’s dive right in!

How We Check Sportsbooks

With many real money sportsbooks looking to enter the North Carolina borders, it might be challenging to keep track of every new entrant, and vetting each of them can be a chore. That is why as experts, we take the time to check as many sportsbooks as possible so that you do not have to go through the stress. We use a system to fully inspect sportsbooks that have proven themselves to be worthy candidates. 

First of all, we ensure that the sportsbook is fully licensed and legalized in North Carolina. After that, we check for security, bonuses both new and existing players can expect to receive, payment options, game coverage, and customer service. Once the sportsbook scores highly in every department, we add it to our recommended list for you to choose from.

Licensing and Regulation 

Since 2019, North Carolina has legalized sports betting, and as a result, any bookmaker looking to operate in the state requires a license from the control board. Therefore, we check the sportsbook we are vetting to see if they hold a North Carolina license. Once they do, and we confirm that it is legitimate, we add them to our list of sportsbooks recommended for NC players. We also consider sports betting sites with proper licenses from global authorities such as the Malta Gaming Authority, Panama Gaming Commission, and UK Gambling Commission, to name a few.

Security

Another factor we consider is security. We check whether the sports betting site employs any top-notch security system and encryption technique. We look at the site’s SSL certification, if there are any, to know if it is up to date or not. Once we can see it ticks these boxes, we then look for other user protection features on the site, before adding the sportsbook to our list or moving to the next.

Bonuses

Promotions, rewards, and sportsbook bonuses are crucial in the online gambling industry, especially for new players. Therefore, they are among the factors we consider when evaluating a sportsbook. We ensure that the sportsbooks on our list offer a wide variety of bonuses, including free bets, welcome bonus packages, deposit offers, reload bonuses, and many more. 

Payment Options

Having a hassle-free deposit and withdrawal when you play online is vital. That way, your gambling experience won’t be impeded by complex deposit processes or slow withdrawals. So, we look at the payment terms at each sportsbook to learn about their fees, processing time, as well as the range of banking options available. We also ensure that players in North Carolina can easily use the methods featured on the site. There has been plenty of demand from online sports bettors for Bitcoin sportsbooks, PayPal sportsbooks, Skrill sportsbooks and Neteller sportsbooks in recent times.

Game Coverage

One of the most important aspects when looking at a sportsbook is of course the games and sports the site covers. The more the coverage, the better. With that, players can easily find their favorite sports or engage in as many sports as possible. In addition, we check to see if there are other things to bet on, such as virtual sports, casino games, politics, etc. 

Customer Service

Finally, we vet each sportsbook based on their customer service experience. We ask a series of questions to see how quickly they respond and resolve issues. Also, we make sure there are enough channels available for bettors to contact the support team. We also check to see if there are other ways for players to get help aside from talking to the support team.

Understanding the North Carolina Sports Betting Market

If you want to start betting on sports in North Carolina, you need to understand the state’s sports betting market. With that, you can know what to look for when choosing a sportsbook. In this section, we will break down NC’s sports betting market.

North Carolina Betting Laws

Historically, North Carolina is one of the less friendly states regarding gambling. Before passing the sports betting in 2019, only three land-based casinos were available in the state. Even with the new sports betting bill, online casinos are still banned. However, online casinos with offshore licenses can still accept players from the state. 

North Carolina Sports Betting Bill and Regulation Timeline

In recent times, North Carolina has moved to update the existing gambling laws. It wasn’t until 2019 before the first sportsbook licenses were issued in the state. However, since then, the state has moved towards being more open to sports betting and independent sportsbooks.

• July 26, 2019: NC gave sports betting licenses to Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino and a land-based casino in the Catawba Indian Nation. Before this, sports betting was not legal.
• March 22, 2021: One of the licensed casinos, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino, launched The Book, the first sportsbook in NC. The first bet was on the UNC vs. Wisconsin, a college basketball game. 
• April 7, 2021: SB 688, a bill by State Senator Jim Perry, was filed to legalize online sports betting in North Carolina. The bill was set to create limited licenses for online sportsbooks without partnering with existing casinos. 
• July 1, 2021: The second casino with a sports betting license opened to the public temporarily. As a result, the casino can offer sports betting to bettors in the state. 
• August 4, 2021: The North Carolina Senate passed the bill to legalize and license mobile gambling. It is then moved down to the House for consideration.

Gambling Tax

Even though gambling in North Carolina is not so easy, the state requires bettors to pay gambling taxes whenever they place a bet. It does matter if you win while playing at an offshore betting site or one of the state’s sportsbooks. It gets taxed as under the income tax rate. However, you are only responsible for paying taxes on net earnings from gambling. If your total win is $2,000 and you lost about $500, you only have to pay taxes on the net earnings of $1,500. 

Land-Based Betting in North Carolina

Land-based casinos and sportsbooks are limited, as there are only three locations you can visit to place bets in the state. They include Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino, Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort, and Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. Although these casinos are not as grand as those in Vegas, you can very much enjoy a great gaming experience visiting them.

Future Projection

With the state’s legislation opening up to the idea of sports betting, we can expect to see more sportsbooks vie for a spot in the market. Although you can have a whole gaming experience playing at an offshore sportsbook, playing at a state-licensed sports betting site is both exciting and more convenient. We expect to see more positive feedback over time. 

Top Sports To Bet On In North Carolina

There are a number of professional sports franchises based in North Carolina that residents will be keen to wager on. We have identified sportsbooks that are available to sports bettors in North Carolina that are excellent choices for a number of sports and some of America’s biggest events:

• NBA Sportsbooks
• March Madness Sportsbooks
• NFL Sportsbooks
• Super Bowl Sportsbooks
• NCAA Sportsbooks
• MLB Sportsbooks
• NHL Sportsbooks
• UFC Sportsbooks
• Tennis Sportsbooks
• Soccer Sportsbooks
• Golf Sportsbooks
• NASCAR Sportsbooks
• Esports Sportsbooks
• Horse Racing Sportsbooks

Betting On Offshore Sportsbooks 

With online sports betting still not fully legalized in the state, players can look to offshore online sportsbooks to join. The gambling laws are not too stringent, so bettors can quickly join any licensed sportsbook. In that case, you need to vet through as many sports betting sites using our various expert tips to see if they meet the high standards we set. 

At offshore sportsbooks, you can bet on both foreign and local sports, as they usually cover a wide range of games. In addition, you can deposit using different payment methods. Some notable methods include debit/credit cards, bank transfers, e-wallets, scratch cards, and even crypto. Although North Carolina laws do not protect you, if you encounter any issues, there are global gambling authorities that you can contact.

We have many sportsbooks online today and as a result, finding the right one is not easy. However, we have helped reduce the work for you by gathering some of the best sportsbooks you can join in North Carolina. In that case, you should look at our list of recommended sports betting sites for bettors in the state. Once you find the one you like, go ahead and create an account, deposit, and start placing your best bets.

Fantasy Sports Betting

Fantasy sports betting does not have a specific regulation in North Carolina. In that case, no law stops you from engaging in daily fantasy sports. Until there is a change in the laws, you do not have to worry about playing fantasy sports as long as you understand how it works. If you want to get started, there are many daily fantasy sports providers available in the state. You can choose one to start playing. 

Before you jump in, you need to ensure that you have vetted enough platforms so that you find the right one for you. You can use the tips we mentioned in this guide. Alternatively, you can simply check our recommended list to pick one. That way, you do not need to go through the stress of finding a daily fantasy sports platform to join. 

Final Thoughts

Finding the best sportsbook in North Carolina is the same as with any other state in the US. However, it is far easier in North Carolina since sports betting was legalized in 2019, as many players have fantastic sportsbooks available to them, without having to always use offshore sites.

To get started, all you need to do is follow our tips, register at the sportsbook you selected, deposit money into your bet account, and you can start placing bets. Note that you can always join more than one sports betting site, depending on what you are looking to get. So, go and enjoy top bonuses and promotions to maximize your gambling experience!

FAQs

Are sports betting sites available in North Carolina?

Currently, there are no state-licensed sports betting sites available in the state. In that case, you can only place bets on sports when you visit the land-based casinos with licenses. Or you can decide to choose an offshore sportsbook to join. So, you can check our list of top choices to pick the one you like. 

Is online horse race betting available in North Carolina?

Betting on horse races in North Carolina is only available when you visit any licensed brick-and-mortar casinos. Otherwise, you have to join a top offshore-licensed horse race betting site to start online horse race betting in North Carolina. But technically, online horse race betting is not entirely legal in the state.

What types of gambling activities are legal in the state?

Only offline gambling is available in the state. So, to legally bet, you need to visit any of the licensed casinos. When you visit the casinos, you can engage in slots, sports betting, horse race betting, table games, and other gambling activities. Until online gambling is legal, you can bet online.

How to get started with sports betting in North Carolina?

In case you want to place bets on sports in North Carolina, you can get started by finding a top sportsbook to join. Once you pick one to join, you can start placing bets on sports and teams you enjoy. If you are familiar with sports betting previously, you won’t have a problem getting started.

What’s North Carolina’s current stance on gambling?

Although North Carolina’s gambling stance is becoming lax compared to previous years, online gambling activities are not yet legalized. However, there has been positive progress in recent sittings, so there is a chance that online gambling might be legalized soon.