Eight operators are set to go live in North Carolina when online sports betting launches in the state on March 11.
The North Carolina Lottery Commission Sports Betting Committee provided an update on the progress of the operator licensing process during a Monday meeting.
Commissioners also revealed the process for voluntary self-exclusion and the regulations that the state’s tribal-owned betting entities must follow if they conduct sports betting operations outside of tribal land boundaries.
The full NCLC meets on Wednesday to discuss and approve all the items discussed in committee on Monday.
NCLC provides help to operators during the licensing process
While the NCLC expects to have eight sports betting operators open for business in March when NC online sports betting launches, there is a chance that some companies may encounter bumps in the road to obtaining the mandatory Certificate of Compliance needed to go live. The Committee recommended that operators submit all documents needed to receive a certificate by Jan. 26 and provided a checklist of required materials.
The NCLC is working closely with operators to make sure the process goes smoothly.
“As for certificate of compliance update, we have assigned specialists that are working with our operator applicants to review and address items needed for their certificate of compliance,” said Sterl Carpenter, the NCLC’s deputy director of sports betting, during the meeting.
Operators can begin registering customers and bettors can start funding their accounts on March 1. The NCLC will continue to hold the hand of operators who do not have a certificate of compliance approved by the start of next month.
“We hope to have all of them done and they hope to be able to be allowed to meet that March 1 deadline for their signing up of applicants,” Carpenter said. “Remember, just because they don’t get there if they don’t get their certificate of compliance items done at that time. We’ll still be working all the way up through and past the March 11 deadline to get people through that process.”
In short, while operators will shoot to begin signing customers up on March 1, they won’t have fallen behind if it takes them a few more days to reach compliance. The ten-day pre-launch period between March 1 and March 11 is only for creating and funding and accounts, and no bets can be placed during that time.
NC sports betting operators likely to go live on March 11
The eight sportsbooks that are expected to begin taking wagers on March 11:
– Bet365 Sportsbook NC (partnering with the Charlotte Hornets)
– ESPN Bet Sportsbook NC (partnering with Quail Hollow Club)
– Fanatics Sportsbook NC (partnering with the Carolina Hurricanes)
– FanDuel Sportsbook NC (partnering with the PGA)
– DraftKings Sportsbook NC (partnering with NASCAR)
– BetMGM Sportsbook NC (partnering with Charlotte Motor Speedway)
– Underdog Sportsbook NC (partnering with McConnell Golf’/Sedgefield Country Club)
– Caesars Sportsbook NC (partnering with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
Filing disputes and complaints against operators
Carpenter also outlined the NCLC’s complaint and wager dispute process. When players have a wager disagreement not resolved to their satisfaction with an operator, they can escalate the complaint by filing a wager dispute report. The NCLC notes that before filing a report, players “must exhaust all resolution procedures with the operator with whom you are in dispute.”
The NCLC will also handle submissions from citizens who want to file a report detailing “a possible violation of the law or rules by a licensee.” North Carolinians should note that information on a complaint may become part of the public record.
Forms for filing wager disputes and complaints will be posted on NCgaming.gov.
Voluntary self-exclusion program process explained
North Carolina’s voluntary self-exclusion program will be in sync with other states that have legal online sports betting. Residents can register for self-exclusion from sports wagering and pari-mutuel wagering for a specific amount of time via an online form that will be posted in the responsible gaming section of NCgaming.gov.
The commission also provides the option for residents to register in person if they are uncomfortable submitting their information online. The NCLC’s six lottery offices will accept in-person voluntary self-exclusion. The offices are in Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh, Greenville and Wilmington.
The upside of this process for bettors dealing with problem gambling concerns is that they can now voluntarily self-exclude from all apps in one place. This instead of excluding themselves piecemeal app by app.
Tribal Gaming Enterprise Agreement clarified
Both federally recognized tribes that operate retail sportsbooks in the state will open online sportsbooks at some point this year. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will utilize its pre-existing relationship with Caesars. The Catawba Nation which operates the Catawba Two Kings Casino hasn’t announced a sports betting partner yet. Gambling businesses on tribal land adhere to tribal-state compacts.
However, if the tribes decide to conduct sports betting business outside of tribal land boundaries, they will be subject to “all rules and regulations adopted by the Commission with respect to sports wagering.” This agreement renews annually between the agency and tribes.
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