Online sports betting began at noon on March 11th. Here's how North Carolina got here and where you can place your bets.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After months of anticipation from lawmakers, sports fans and sports franchises across the state, mobile sports gambling officially launched in North Carolina on Monday.
Eight licensed sportsbooks will be allowed to operate in North Carolina. These sportsbooks include some of the biggest names in sports gambling, from FanDuel and DraftKings to BetMGM, ESPN BET, and Caesars.
Users can download any of these apps and create an account. From there you can deposit money and bet on sporting events. The app is based on your location, so if you're driving to South Carolina (or any other state where online gambling isn't legal), you won't be able to bet on games. In legal states, you can bet if the sportsbook is licensed to operate.
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Gambling experts predict smooth launch in North Carolina
Sports gambling experts believe there will be little problem with Monday's launch since these sportsbooks are already accustomed to operating on a national scale.
“I think it's going to be smooth sailing,” Sports Betting Dime editor Robert Linehan told WCNC Charlotte's Flashpoint. “This is too big a state. The market is too big for these carriers not to be on top of their game when this launches.”
While sports fans were disappointed that mobile betting was not launched in time for the Super Bowl, state lawmakers made it a priority to have it ready in time for March Madness, well ahead of the June 15 deadline. Early estimates suggest that online gambling will generate approximately $65 million in additional tax revenue for North Carolina in the first year.
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Gov. Roy Cooper signed the sports betting law in Charlotte last June, along with the lawmakers who passed the bill in the General Assembly. The North Carolina Lottery Commission was then tasked with creating rules and regulations before licensing sportsbooks.
Catawba Two Kings Casino is still awaiting a license. According to WRAL, the casino is the only group that applied for a sports betting license but was not approved.
In addition to mobile gambling, North Carolina law also allows in-person sports betting parlors. In-person sportsbooks have been approved at several sports arenas, including Bank of America Stadium, Spectrum Center, North Wilkesboro Speedway and Quail Hollow Club. At this time, there is no start date for the expansion of in-person sports betting.
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Sports Betting 101
Steve Bittenbender of BetCarolina.com says there are three common types of bets. We usually hear a lot about point spreads, money lines, and totals.
The point difference is the handicap of the two competing teams.
“When you bet on the favorites, you're betting on them to win by a larger margin,” Bittenbender said. “If they're an underdog, you'd expect them to cover the spread or potentially win outright.”
Next is the money line, or “straight up” bet. You are choosing the winner of the game. This is more advantageous for bettors who believe the underdog will pull off an upset. If you pick the favorite to win, you won't win much, but all that matters is winning the match.
“The odds will be shorter than they would be for a point spread, but the odds will be more favorable for the underdog,” he said. “They have to win outright. They can't just cover, but they can get a bigger payout.”
The third type of bet is the total bet. This refers to the total points scored by both teams. You can also bet on a single team's total if you wish.
“That's what a lot of people call an over-under,” Bittenbender said. “A lot of people like to bet on the over because it's a psychological thing where people want to see something better. So in basketball, the over-under is about 150 points or so in college basketball totals. It may be possible to exceed it.”
As of Monday, bettors can bet on who will win the NCAA Tournament. Bittenbender said that while the full field is not set, he can bet on some candidates in the futures market.
“I was checking the odds this morning before everything started and I saw North Carolina at 18-1 and Duke at about 20-1,” he said. “You have a chance to bet on whether your favorite team will win the NCAA Tournament.”
If you want to bet but don't know much about sports, you still have the opportunity to play and place what are called prop bets. Here you bet that a certain outcome will happen, such as a player scoring his 10 points or kicking his goal on the field.
When it comes to practicing your game, Bittenbender says it's best to start small and stick with it.
“If you deposit $100 into your account, don’t bet more than $3 or $5 on a game,” he said. “That way you can stick with this game longer. As you know, sports betting is really a complement to the sports experience, not a replacement for it. That means from start to finish. It's a good way to stay hooked on the game until the end. You probably won't make a lot of money doing it, but it's a way to test your knowledge and skills and maybe even brag to your friends.”
Sportsbook Franchise Team for Online Gambling
Under North Carolina law, sportsbooks must have a contract with a sports franchise or league to operate in the state. That's why BetMGM partnered with Charlotte Motor Speedway, for example. The Carolina Hurricanes, Carolina Panthers, and Charlotte Hornets all signed deals with official gambling partners that allow these companies to advertise to fans during games.
The following eight sportsbooks are licensed in North Carolina and are affiliated with sports franchises or leagues within the state.
- bet365: Charlotte Hornets
- BetMGM: Charlotte Motor Speedway
- Caesars Sportsbook: Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise Cherokee
- DraftKings: NASCAR
- Fanatics: Carolina Hurricanes
- FanDuel: PGA Tour, Carolina Panthers
- ENN Sports Interactive (ESPN BET): Quail Hollow Club
- Underdog Sports: McConnell Golf
Where does the money go?
Sports betting operators must pay a tax rate of 18% if: It gives you the privilege of getting a license and increases revenue for the state.
In the North Carolina General Assembly's legislative finance memo, the breakdown of funding is as follows:
- $2 million donated to the Department of Health and Human Services for gambling addiction education and treatment programs
- $1 million to North Carolina Amateur Sports to help local governments and nonprofit organizations purchase youth sports equipment and provide upgrades and improvements to public facilities that benefit youth sports.
- Donated $300,000 to each of 13 University of North Carolina component institutions to support university athletics
- Donated $1 million to the North Carolina Outdoor Heritage Advisory Council for grants to support travel expenses for sports teams and incentives to attract sporting events for non-professional athletes.
- Of the remaining amount:
- 20% will be distributed equally among the UNC's 13 institutions mentioned above to support, rather than replace, university athletic departments.
- Donate 30% to North Carolina's Major Events, Games, and Attractions Fund
- 50% to general fund
“Let’s save some of this money so people can get the care they need and the proceeds go to those who need it most.” North Carolina Congressman Wesley Harris said:
Harris says while the new funding is a boon to the state, it doesn't solve all of the state's budget shortfalls in the big picture.
“Our state budget is $33 billion a year. That's not a lot,” Harris said.
Sports betting in the state is expected to reach more than $6 billion in its first year, with one in six North Carolinians planning to bet once a week, according to the Bet Carolina Survey.
“You can feel confident that your money is safe with these vendors.” Eric Ramsey, managing editor of Legal Sports Report, said:
If you want to place your bets at a licensed sportsbook, our experts have some advice for you.
“Use these betting credits to practice betting with low risk and find your sweet spot.” Tyler said Andrews, editor-in-chief of NC Sharp.
“Most people watching this are not going to get rich from sports betting,” Ramsey said.
addiction concerns
However, the excitement of sports gambling has its critics. Concerns about addiction are growing as sportsbooks run large amounts of advertising to promote their businesses, and many offer bonus bets and other incentives in their promotions to attract new customers. .
“Online gambling, sports gambling, is the heroin of gambling,” said Les Bernal of Stop Predatory Gambling. “The amount of advertising that comes with online sports gambling will make child gambling incredibly prevalent.”
Betting apps have warnings that remind users to limit their gambling, and users can adjust settings to limit the amount of money they wager, the amount of money they deposit into their account, and the amount of time they can spend using the app.
Playing the lottery is a type of gambling.If you are worried about gambling Or if you're concerned about a friend, call the NC Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-877-718-5543. You can also contact the National Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
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