North Carolina is a state known for many things but to sports fans, it is primarily known for its college athletics programs. With powerhouse schools, Duke, and the University of North Carolina leading the way, sports fans across multiple sports are rabid for their local teams. However, how does this impact the sports betting climate in the state? What about casinos or other games of chance?
Welcome to (site name) your one-stop resource for everything North Carolina gambling-related. Our team of gaming legends have put together a comprehensive guide to betting in the state – some instructional pieces, the latest in changes to the laws, and an overview of where you can or will be able to bet on your favorite games.
Online/Mobile Sports Betting In North Carolina
Let’s start with the most popular topic of conversation around gambling in the U.S. these days – sports betting. We’ll start with the good news -there was legislation passed in 2019 that allows for retail sports betting to be operated by the two tribal casinos in the state. The bad news is that these casinos are nowhere near the major urban centers, so it is downright painful having to get to one of the properties to make a bet.
As for online sports betting, that was not passed as part of the July 2019 legislation. This is very shortsighted, given the lack of retail options and the obvious impact on revenue mobile betting is having in other states. Our Online Sports Betting section reviews the history of the gambling bill in North Carolina, as well as reviewing all the bet types you are likely to find at the two legal sportsbooks in the state.
Online Casinos
Casino gambling of any kind was illegal until 2005, so it will come as no shock to readers that online casinos are not regulated in North Carolina. Fans of digital slots and blackjack are faced with the same lack of options as those who want to bet on sports online. While there has been no movement on the legislative front, we still give you all the tools you need to be smart about where and what you play on a casino floor.
Online Poker in North Carolina
Online poker was at one time one of the pastimes enjoyed by a majority of North Carolinians. Today, after many of the main online poker sites were shut down in 2011, there are no legal online sites for residents to play. No matter – there are options for those who are eager to play Texas Hold’em or Omaha – this section reviews all the available poker options for both cash game and tournament players alike.
Online Horse Racing Betting in North Carolina
North Carolina is one of the few states that has a very clear view on gambling on horse racing: it simply isn’t allowed in any form. Even land-based the Interstate Racing Act allows for betting across multiple state lines via online sites, these site block players from North Carolina from creating accounts.
The good news for horse racing enthusiasts is that the sports betting law from 2019 also authorized live Off Track Betting at the two Appalachian casinos, so if you are willing to make the drive, you can place your bets there.
We know that betting on horse racing can be intimidating, so our handicapping experts break down all the bet types, giving you an overview of the industry in simple English. It’s worth having a read even if you are just planning to watch the Kentucky Derby on television.
Our Guides to Online Betting
We want all of our readers to have the best chance of being a winning gambler. With that in mind, we have created betting guides for all of the major verticals. From learning the rules to 7 Card Stud to understanding why you can only tease football and basketball games, you will find just about everything you need to become an intelligent bettor.
All of these guides are meant to give you a general overview of each game – we don’t get into advanced strategy. The end goal is to make you feel confident when walking up to a sportsbook betting window or saddling up at one of the dozens of games you will find in a casino.
North Carolina Online Lottery Games
This may be hard to believe given how popular lottery games are in the United States, but North Carolina did not have legal sales of lottery tickets until 2006. Since then, the North Carolina Education Lottery has expanded into draw games, scratch tickets, and for those of you who are too busy to make it to a retailer, online sales.
Now, on the NC Lottery app or through their website, you can order your draw tickets for games like Mega Millions and Powerball without leaving your home. You can order one ticket as a time, or you are able to pre-purchase up to 52 weeks of tickets with the click of a button.
Online Gaming FAQ:
Are offshore gambling sites legal to play in North Carolina?
If you think that crazed Tarheel or Blue Devils fans aren’t going to find a way to bet on their beloved teams from North Carolina, you are sadly mistaken. The offshore online gambling industry, however illegal it may be interpreted, is still open for business for residents of the state. Even with the regulated retail books available, this has not stopped these sites from accepting deposits and bets. In fact, the fact that someone can access these and not a regulated option should be enough ammunition to pass more comprehensive legislation for all forms of online gambling. We do not recommend that you play at any of these sites, however, as the risk of something happening to your account is too high for many people to handle. Stay patient, and you will rewarded with online gambling legislation in due course.
Why would they pass a sports betting law without mobile access?
This is a tough one to answer. The best guess we have is that the state is incredibly conservative when it comes to gambling of any kind, so lawmakers likely wanted to take a very measured approach to betting on sports across the state. However, with the competition of the grey market sites and the undeniable success of mobile betting in states like New Jersey, it is imagined that the state government will revisit the language of the law soon. It is too much revenue to turn a blind eye to in the state.
Why can’t I access regulated gambling sites from other states from my mobile device?
The reason you may hear an ad for an online betting site somewhere but cannot access it from your device is something called geofencing. All regulated gambling sites in the U.S. are overseen on a state level, and to comply with regulations, a site cannot allow play from outside its physical borders. This means that you could, perhaps, travel to another state and play games from there, but when you leave the boundaries, you will no longer be able to access your account. This will be the same in North Carolina when online gambling legislation passes, except for perhaps online poker where there is already a compact between several states that likely North Carolina could join to increase overall traffic on their sites.
Are online casinos any different than land-based ones?
From a rules perspective, no -they are the same, offering the same odds. However, with no physical locations causing space limitations, an online casino can offer far more content than its land-based equivalent. Also, the games played online happen much faster, which means you will be playing far more hands or spins per hour. While this gives you chances to win big more often, it can also drain your bankroll much faster as well.