CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper signed a bill into law on Wednesday that will legalize online sports betting across the state.
Cooper was at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte to sign House Bill 347, which passed through both chambers of the NC General Assembly earlier this month. He was joined by lawmakers from both parties as they celebrated how sports gambling will benefit the whole state.
“It will benefit taxpayers by giving them a portion of the earnings,” Cooper said. “Let’s face it, sports wagering is already happening in our state. Surrounding states here and across the country are already taking advantage. This legislation allows the state of North Carolina to regulate it and to put safeguards on it, as well as provide funding for helping people with problem gambling.”
The law will go into effect on Jan. 8, 2024, and calls for the NC Lottery Commission to award 12 licenses for operators to take online sports bets for any adult in North Carolina.
“This is a historic moment for the state of North Carolina,” Cooper said. “This will benefit our economy for generations to come.”
Additionally, eight facilities in the state will be able to operate a sportsbook:
Adults with wagering accounts will be able to bet online through computers or mobile phones. But proposed sportsbooks offered at or near pro sports venues, race tracks and golf courses can take cash bets from anyone over 21. Horse-race betting will be allowed through separate gambling operators.
The legislation will tax sports wagering at a rate equal to 18% of gross betting revenue minus winnings. The earlier proposal in the House set a similar 14% tax with more deductions.
“Today is a very exciting day for sports fans across the state of North Carolina,” Hornets Sports & Entertainment said in a release. “We are honored that Governor Cooper chose to sign today’s historic sports wagering legislation at Spectrum Center, and we thank him for his leadership regarding this issue. We also would like to thank the members of the North Carolina House and Senate for their vision, effort and support throughout the process. This legislation provides fans another exciting opportunity to engage with their favorite sports.”
Several public universities will receive $300,000 annually from license fees and taxes collected from the law.
The list of schools that will receive money is:
The bill also allocates $2 million to the NC Department of Health and Human Services, $1 million to North Carolina Amateur Sports, and $1 million to the North Carolina Heritage Advisory Council.
North Carolina’s attempts to legalize online sports betting began in 2019. The Senate passed a sports betting bill in 2021 but the measure failed by a single vote in the House in 2022. Sports gambling was previously only allowed at three tribal casinos before this bill.
Online sports gambling was legalized after a 2018 Supreme Court decision. Since then, 30 states, including North Carolina, have legalized online sports betting.
Playing the lottery is a form of gambling. If you are concerned about your gambling or worried about a friend, you can call the NC Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-877-718-5543. You can also contact the National Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.