Is Sports Betting Legal In North Carolina?

In North Carolina, college basketball reigns supreme and if you’re looking to take action on it, you may be wondering, is sports betting legal in North Carolina? There's no doubting where the true passions lie for residents in North Carolina and given that atmosphere, a lot of North Carolina residents like to place bets on sporting events. What's unfortunate is that amount of false information given to the potential bettors who are just looking to throw some money down on their team of choice.

The first and foremost thing to understand is that there are plenty of options if you want to bet on sports in North Carolina. There are a few state and federal laws to take note of, though, and even if they don’t necessarily directly affect you, understanding them only helps you and anyone else who is looking to bet. We’ll get into those laws throughout this page as well as a review of Bovada Sportsbook – one of the best offshore sports betting sites available to North Carolina residents.

Land-Based Sports Betting in North Carolina:

Legislators worked diligently on making sports betting in North Carolina legal. Throughout the 2019 legislative session, lawmakers introduced NC SB 154 which gave us an understanding of where the state was headed. After it was signed into law during July 2019, sports betting as well as horse racing was made available to NC residents and tourists at the tribal casinos in the state. These are the only land-based sports betting options in North Carolina but mobile betting opens up another legal outlet.

Legal Online Sports Betting in North Carolina:

The good news is there is an alternative to land based wagering in North Carolina. There are many online sportsbooks that accept North Carolina residents, and since most are based overseas they are able to avoid any state or federal sports betting laws. In addition to being a legal way to wager on sports, most online sportsbooks boast a long, proud record of good customer service. These networks go to painstaking lengths to ensure that their clients' money is safely deposited and is able to be returned along with their winnings, and they pride themselves on years of legitimate and friendly customer service.

If you want to wait for the state to launch its own online sportsbooks you might be waiting for a while. Lawmakers did introduce NC SB 688 in 2021, which would create provisions for the state to regulate its own online sportsbooks. But, this bill has had difficulty gaining any traction and will likely have to wait until next year for another shot.

Bovada Sportsbook - Lines Available For All Major Sports + TV Shows + Political Races

Bovada Sportsbook

If you've made the decision to go with an online sportsbook but your head is spinning from choice, you would do well to take a look at the Bovada sportsbook. The Bovada name has become synonymous with sports betting lines, as many major media outlets including CBS will cite Bovada's lines even over the more famous, land based Las Vegas sportsbooks. Coming so heavily endorsed, it's not surprising that Bovada has been functioning soundly as a legitimate operation for years, much to the delight of its many clients. One thing that has kept the Bovada name so pristine in sports betting communities is the ease in which one can collect their money. Bovada account holders are entitled to one free payout a month, meaning that 12 times a year, it's possible to collect any money from your account completely free of any processing or handling fees. This is just one example of the kind of great service Bovada can provide.

Top North Carolina Sports Betting Sites

Rank
Online Sportsbooks
Bonuses Offered
Rating
US Players?
Play Now!
#1
50% up to $250
5 Star Rating
US Residents Welcome! Except DE, MD, NJ, NV
All States
EXCEPT: DE, MD, NJ, NV
#2
50% up to $1,000
5 Star Rating
US Residents Welcome!
All States
EXCEPT: NJ, NV, NY
#3
50% up to $1,000
5 Star Rating
US Residents Welcome!
All States
EXCEPT: NJ, NV, NY
#4
100% up to $300
5 Star Rating
US Residents Welcome!
All States
#5
50% up to $1,000
5 Star Rating
US Residents Welcome!
All States
EXCEPT: NJ, NV, NY

What's The Bottom Line? Will I Get In Trouble For Betting On Sports?

Now that you know it's possible to legally, safely, and responsibly enjoy the sports betting hobby, March should bring an even higher fever pitch to the state of North Carolina. Aside from the casino venues, an entire world of betting lines and propositions are also open to you. Just remember in order to be in accordance with state and federal laws, using an online sportsbook is legal so as long as the site is located out of the country and should have a regulatory body in place overseeing their operations.