Early geolocation data from the NC Lottery Commission suggests that iOS devices have a strong foothold in the official launch of online sports betting in North Carolina.
This should come as no surprise as, statistically, Apple has more than a 50% share of the US market, with nearly half of all Americans owning an iPhone or iPad.
The data also suggests that North Carolina online sports betting is off to a strong start.
Apple devices lead the way in NC sportsbook app log-ons
A recent tweet by Rep. Jason Saine, the key protagonist in North Carolina’s journey towards legal sports betting, revealed insights into the current mobile betting landscape in the Tar Heel State. In the tweeted image of NCLC geolocation data, it’s evident that an overwhelming majority of log-ons to NC sportsbook apps have been made on iOS devices.
North Carolina Sports Betting comes in with lots of excitement. People logging in to their respective apps in NC! #ncpol pic.twitter.com/raMKATQVQN
— Rep. Jason Saine (@JasonSaine97th) March 11, 2024
In the above map, the white pins indicate iOS devices, the green indicates Android, the blue are PC/Mac and the red are non-compliant.
GeoComply, a geolocation security and compliance firm from Vancouver, recently reported that sports betting had been off to a tremendous start in NC. In a report, the company announced that it had conducted more than 5.36 million geolocation checks in the state since the launch of sports betting last week. In contrast, the same company reported only 134,000 geolocation checks from the neighboring state of Virginia over the same 48-hour period.
“The first 48 hours of [mobile] sports betting in North Carolina has confirmed what we already know: there is huge demand for legal online betting in the Tar Heel State,” GeoComply posted on X. “With March Madness on the horizon, North Carolina is poised to be one of the leading markets in the country.”
The report could be foretelling of the future of sports betting in North Carolina, as the state may soon emerge as a top-five state in the country. Currently, the state is home to eight legal sportsbooks including industry leaders such as FanDuel Sportsbook NC and Draftkings Sportsbook NC, in addition to six other upcoming sportsbooks, including the much-hyped ESPN Bet.
GeoComply also revealed that there were in excess of 1.75 million attempts from North Carolina to access legal sportsbooks from the start of the 2023 NFL season. These attempts were made from only 166,000 unique player accounts, indicating that sports fans were eager to have an avenue for legal wagers in NC.
As March Madness betting kicks off, the number of geolocation check-ins from iOS devices–and all devices–will likely increase as North Carolina, a hotbed for college basketball, places bets on who will take home the men’s and women’s national championships.
Betting Fans Travel North To Place Wagers
The red pins on Rep. Saine’s map indicate non-compliant wagers. These mainly occur when someone tries to place a bet outside a specific market’s jurisdiction. In this case, red pins along North Carolina’s southern border indicate South Carolina residents trying to access NC sportsbook apps.
GeoComply claimed to have identified 6,175 attempts from South Carolinians attempting to access North Carolina’s regulated sports betting market. “It’s early, but North Carolina is already delivering on lawmaker expectations when they legalized online sports betting last year,” said Lindsay Slader, GeoComply’s senior vice president of compliance, in a statement.
“The state’s well-structured approach to mobile sports betting safeguards consumers and opens up significant revenue streams. With March Madness around the corner, we are excited to see continued growth.”
Image Credit: Mary Altaffer / AP Images
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