On Monday, March 11, Greg Olsen will place the ceremonial first bet for DraftKings Sportsbook at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte.
Carolina Panthers legend Olsen will share a few words to commemorate the launch of North Carolina online sports betting. He’ll share the stage with Jeremy Elbaum, DraftKings chief commercial officer, and State Rep. Zack Hawkins.
“With the NCAA Tournament right around the corner and the NASCAR season in full throttle, we are thrilled to be launching our top-rated sportsbook app in North Carolina,” said Matt Kalish, president of DraftKings North America.
DraftKings might not have the only ceremonial first bet on Monday
DraftKings Sportsbook NC is one of eight operators going live in North Carolina on March 11. The others, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, Bet365, ESPN Bet, Fanatics and Underdog Sports, will all be live and accepting wagers starting at 12 p.m.
DraftKings’ ceremonial first bet at the NASCAR Hall of Fame commemorates the operator’s sports betting partnership with NASCAR, which secured DraftKings entry into the NC sports betting market.
The event will likely not be the only first bet that day. Gov. Roy Cooper has not yet announced whether he will also place an inaugural bet on Monday. Likewise, other online operators may offer their own similar ceremonial first bets.
Regardless of who places a bet “first” on Monday, North Carolina has already received its first online sports bet. A week ago, Caesars Sportsbook, through its partnership with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, accepted the state’s first online sports bet on the same day it was approved for an online sports betting license.
DraftKings recognizes Problem Gambling Awareness Month
DraftKings will work with the National Council for Problem Gaming (NCPG) to raise awareness about problem gambling and highlight the availability of treatment and resources.
Along with its work with the NCPG, DraftKings is taking preemptive steps with its online app to allow people to take more control of their gambling habits.
DraftKings has launched the “My Stat Sheet” feature within its responsible gambling content. The company bills the feature as an “innovative responsible gaming feature that shows customers exactly how much time they’ve spent on DraftKings, and the total amount of deposits they’ve placed on the platform.”
This kind of upfront info is key to helping customers control their gambling.
With launch only a few days away, we think all prospective NC sports bettors should take the opportunity to log into their preferred apps and do some required reading with the responsible gambling content.
Image Credit: Brian Westerholt / AP Images
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