North Carolina Sports Betting Legalization Coming Soon?

Yes, the headline reads as a question because North Carolina, after two straight legislative years when it came close, appears to be on track to legalize sports betting in North Carolina in 2023. With a NC Senate-wide vote potentially coming sometime this week, the current NC sports betting bill HB 347 looks likely to pass the Senate.

North Carolina Sports Betting Timeline

The NC Senate Finance Committee is set to meet at 1 pm EST today, Tuesday, May 30. The Finance Committee is the last stop before bills are brought before the entire Senate. That committee meeting is likely a formality, and the bill could be brought to a vote as early as this Wednesday or Thursday.

While HB347 passed the House in March, there are expected amendments. One is to raise the tax percentage on operators from 14% to 18%. It would also take away operators' ability to deduct promotional credits and disallow in-person cash betting at specific sports venues in the state.

Reports from the North Carolina House are that the amendments are not an issue this time around, as last summer it derailed legalization. Once the Senate votes and if it is approved, the House is also expected to follow suit, voting positively on the bill. 

When Could Sports Betting go Live in NC

Once the bill is through the House and Senate, it will be brought to Governor Roy Cooper's desk. Cooper has shared his support for sports betting legalization in North Carolina, meaning he will likely sign off on it. 

Once that is done, sportsbooks could take months or even over a year to start operating in the Tar Heel state. The bill would not go into effect until Jan.1, 2024, so probably the earliest we could expect operators to be allowed to go live in the spring of 2024.