North Carolina online gambling, an industry still in its infancy, has tremendous potential.
Online sports betting in North Carolina could become legal this legislative session through House Bill 347. Retail betting is already available at three in-person tribal sportsbooks.
Online casinos are a little further off, but gamblers in North Carolina still have plenty to get excited about.
Internet sports betting would be a huge step forward for North Carolina gambling. NCSharp provides the latest North Carolina online gambling news from around the Tar Heel State.
Latest North Carolina gambling news
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June 1, 2023Senate Convincingly Affirms NC Sports Betting, Horse Racing Bill
May 31, 2023With Modified Launch Language, Senate Floor Next Stop For NC Sports Betting Bill
May 30, 2023An Interview With Dr. Michelle Malkin On NC Collegiate Gambling Education
May 29, 2023Top 10 North Carolina Lottery Prizes Of The Past Decade
May 26, 2023Legal gambling options in North Carolina
Casino gambling
Real money online casinos are not a legal option in North Carolina. However, North Carolinians can play a variety of casino games online at social and sweepstakes casinos like Pulsz, Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots and Funzpoints. There are also three tribal casinos in North Carolina. Harrah’s Cherokee and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River each feature slots, blackjack, roulette, craps, and other casino favorites, while Catawba Two Kings Casino has slots and electronic table games.
Sports betting
Wagering on sports is legal in North Carolina, albeit in a limited way. The only places to bet on sports in the state are at the retail sportsbooks at the two Cherokee-operated casinos in the western part of the state and at the Catawba Nation’s Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain just outside of Charlotte. Meanwhile, lawmakers are considering legislation to legalize online sports betting in North Carolina. In fact, North Carolina residents may be able to start betting online as soon as Jan. 8, 2024.
Online lottery
The North Carolina Educational Lottery is especially popular, and it has become even more so since the state began allowing online sales of lottery tickets. You can purchase tickets online for six draw games: Carolina Cash 5, Lucky for Life, Carolina Pick 4, Carolina Pick 3, Mega Millions and Powerball. You can use the NC Education Lottery website or download and use the official NC Lottery app to purchase tickets. North Carolina was a relative latecomer when it came to introducing a state-run lottery, with tickets going on sale in 2006. However, the state was one of the first in the country to allow online lottery ticket sales, doing so in 2013.
Daily fantasy sports
Like many other states, North Carolina has no specific legislation authorizing daily fantasy sports and, thus, no framework to regulate it or collect taxes on it. However, the state also has no law prohibiting the activity, meaning people in North Carolina are free to enter the contests at DraftKings, FanDuel and other sites.
Poker
Online poker for real money is not an option in North Carolina, although poker players in the state can play online at Global Poker, a sweepstakes-style site. For live poker players, there is an especially popular room at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee. The World Series of Poker-branded poker room features 32 tables with cash games around the clock and daily and weekly tournaments. The casino also frequently hosts WSOP Circuit stops, with as many as four in a year.
Charitable gaming and bingo
North Carolina allows various types of charitable gaming, the most popular being bingo. Nonprofit organizations can apply for a charitable bingo license to offer games to produce revenue. These organizations can also offer a limited number of raffles per year. In addition, in 2019, the state legalized game nights as another way for charitable organizations to raise funds, although such events can only happen east of Interstate 26 (i.e., not in proximity to the Cherokee casinos in western NC). Bingo fans can also play beach bingo at various locations for small prizes.
North Carolina online gambling FAQ
It depends on the type of gambling. You must be 18 or older to buy lottery tickets. And you must be at least 21 to gamble in the state’s tribal casinos.
Most forms of online gambling in North Carolina are not legal, including real money online casinos. You can play games at online social and sweepstakes casinos for virtual currencies. You can also purchase lottery tickets online and enter daily fantasy sports contests online. But neither online casinos nor online sportsbooks are legal.
North Carolina only allows sports betting at retail sportsbooks at the tribal casinos in the state. At present, Harrah’s Cherokee and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River each have Caesars sportsbooks, while the Catawba Two Kings Casino has announced a plan to open a sportsbook there, as well. The state does not allow online sports betting, although lawmakers continue to consider legislation to do so.
No, you cannot play real money online poker in North Carolina the way you can in Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and a few other states. That means you are not able to play on PokerStars or other online sites. However, you can play poker online at Global Poker, a sweepstakes-style site.
When it comes to North Carolina’s three tribal casinos, the US Department of Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs has approved the tribal-state compacts and otherwise oversees the facilities’ operations. Meanwhile, the North Carolina State Lottery Commission, a state agency belonging to the Department of Commerce, oversees the NC Education Lottery. The Alcohol Law Enforcement agency, part of the NC Department of Public Safety, enforces criminal laws prohibiting illegal gambling.