With the recent debut of sports betting, online gambling in North Carolina is capturing attention. Our team has meticulously evaluated the various licensed platforms in the state, focusing on their value and legitimacy for eligible players. Explore our review to learn more about the best online gambling sites in North Carolina’s evolving market.

Scott Bowen, Editor at online-gambling.com

• Twitter
• Email

Scott Bowen has been a casino expert and editor at online-gambling.com for a few years. He has professional experience in many gambling products, including roulette and blackjack, video poker, and sports betting.

More About Scott Bowen

Online Gambling in North Carolina: Products and Top Sites

Online gambling in NC has many facets worth exploring if you are into games of chance and sports bets. There is a strong daily fantasy sports community that has several websites where you can play. There’s also a functioning lottery and, most recently, an online sports betting market.

In the next few paragraphs, we will discuss the available North Carolina gambling sites, filtering them by the specific category they belong to. Whether you want to bet on sports, play fantasy sports, or participate in the lottery, we’ve found a way for you to do just that and recommend trustworthy operators.

Casino Sites

The current casino laws in NC outright ban the activity. This means you can’t find a reliable casino website where to deposit and play. If, by any chance, you come across a website of this type, know that it isn’t regulated or licensed.

Sports Betting Sites

Sports betting online is a relatively new phenomenon in the state, taking the sports-loving community by storm. While there are close to a dozen betting companies approved at the time of writing, after diligent review, we only listed the ones we think can provide real value to you.

The welcome bonuses of NC betting sites come in the form of free bets after deposit and the placement of a wager of your own. Surprisingly, registration and the claiming of a bonus are not a hassle at all. These brands are also well-equipped with the sports markets we wanted to see – football, baseball, basketball, and all pertinent leagues.

Daily Fantasy Sites in North Carolina

Daily fantasy sports have been a part of online gambling in the Old North State for a while now, gathering a loyal fan base for that time. The first websites started appearing online in 2019, and the best of them are still being visited by thousands engaged in the various contests on offer.

The state still doesn’t have a legal framework for fantasy sports sites in North Carolina, so this gambling segment is a gray zone. The fact of the matter is that you can compete with other players, choosing from contests of specific formats, timeframes, and rules. However, the official legalization of DFS is yet to take place.

Online Poker Sites in North Carolina

Right now, there are no concrete poker laws in NC that permit this activity to be conducted online. None of the websites you might be able to visit from the state are legal, nor are they regulated. We don’t recommend visiting or playing on any websites for online gambling in NC that don’t have a license from the lottery commission.

Lottery Sites in North Carolina

The only website offering online lottery gameplay is that of the NC Education Lottery. There, you can register, deposit, and start playing within a few minutes. While waiting for the results of your draw to come out, the website keeps you engaged by offering “digital instant” – games with fast outcomes.

North Carolina Bonus Offers & Promo Codes

After the launch of legal sports betting in the state, many sportsbook offers became available to players of eligible age. What’s more, fans of fantasy sports can also tap decent welcome bonuses, promising extra cash or free tickets.

So far, there aren’t any other types of bonuses available in the field of internet gambling in North Carolina simply because online casinos haven’t been given the green light. We gathered the best deals that can be found on the Internet and summarized their key terms and conditions for your consideration.

Since only some forms of online gambling are legal in NC, we can’t put our seal of approval on offers that are outside the approved market. However, we checked the conditions, validity, and fairness of the deals mentioned above, and only after careful evaluation did we decide to recommend them to you. They stand out with an affordable required minimum deposit and a decent bonus amount – especially our top recommendation.

Deposit

Most bonuses for online gambling in North Carolina require a deposit to be made before the player is considered eligible. The biggest bonus of this type you can get is for your initial deposit. Sometimes, the offer will cover not only you’re first but follow-up deposits too.

No Deposit

Though a rare occurrence, no deposit bonuses do come out occasionally. This is a type of offer where you don’t even need to make a deposit to benefit. You need to keep in mind that, though it may sound like a giveaway, there will be terms and conditions preventing you from cashing out the money.

Best Gambling Apps for Players in NC

Mobile betting apps are one of the few mediums for online gambling available in the state right now. Together with fantasy sports apps and the Education Lottery, sports betting mobile apps are one of the options for gamblers in the state.

Our team made sure that bonuses and promotions are accessible on the app we recommend. We also dissected the sports betting markets that are available on the app to make sure you don’t have limited choice. What’s more, you can download and install a tailor-made mobile app on your device for better ease of access.

The North Carolina gambling sites are also accessible on mobile thanks to their mobile-first architecture. This allows you to visit and use them on a smartphone, even without installing a dedicated app. Such is the case with the recommended brand in this segment.

Live Gambling in North Carolina

Unfortunately, online casino gaming is still not permissible in the state, which is why there is no live dealer game on the Internet. With that, the only thing we can say for the moment is that online live casinos are still unavailable to NC residents.

Now that North Carolina online gambling has been enriched with sports betting sites, the opportunity to place wagers in real-time is available. Players with experience prefer this option because it is convenient to have more information available to you when placing your bet.

You need to know that the odds of live betting lines can change fast because they reflect what is going on in the respective sports event. As such, betting live can feel a bit challenging for newer players. This is why we don’t recommend you take the plunge if you are unfamiliar with this gambling style.

Payment Methods for Deposits and Withdrawals

As an active user of gaming websites, you have many choices when making a deposit or withdrawal. The sites for online gambling in NC process transactions at no cost, but your payment service provider might charge you. They work with standard time frames of 2-5 workdays for card transfers and up to 24 hours for eWallets.

From our personal experience, we can say that the North Carolina gambling sites accepting PayPal are most suitable for players favoring swift transactions. Considering the currently available gambling websites in the state, we picked the following platform, which accepts PayPal for its quick withdrawals and instant deposits.

Generally, depositing is the easier part because you don’t need to go through verification to send money to your account. It is also an instant transaction, which doesn’t need the approval of the gambling brand where you are registered. We had the most streamlined experience sending money with a bank card and eWallets, but a wire transfer is also an option.

Things are a bit different when you want to take money out of your account. This is where your withdrawal request will be scrutinized and stay pending while it’s being reviewed. You may be asked to pass a verification or send proof that the payment account belongs to you. The closer you stay to the minimum withdrawal amount of $10, the faster your request will be processed.

Payouts and Odds at Gambling Sites

It shouldn’t surprise you that online gambling leans on statistical probabilities. From the lottery games to the sports betting odds you have access to online – everything can be expressed with numbers and probabilities. We dissected the odds given by the gambling brands currently permitted to operate in the state.

To many of you, it may not be immediately obvious how betting odds and payouts are calculated, so we will elaborate a bit. The average payout level of a gambling website is calculated by taking the mean average of all games or markets offered there. The odds on sports events are entirely up to the discretion of the sportsbook running the online platform.

Some odds are better than others because sportsbooks have different odds-scraping techniques and, more importantly – work with different profit margins. The odds of casino games are fixed and are set by the provider. In our case, there aren’t any casino products available online yet.

The Payout Levels for Sports Betting:

Let these percentages be just a rough guideline to all gamblers because, as we mentioned, all online gambling sites in North Carolina are different and have different profit margins. At the same time, what the data conveys is that certain sports can pay better than others, at least as far as the odds are concerned.

How to Start to Gamble Online in North Carolina

The first requirement for anyone who wants to start playing for real money online is to be 21 or older. NC online gambling sites don’t allow anyone in if they can’t present an identification document showing that they are 21 or older. If you’ve got that covered, you can proceed with the other steps of how to bet on sports.

Placing a bet is not too complicated unless you want to have many selections in it or implement a betting system. In any case, you can always follow the steps above as they outline the basic logic behind placing a wager. Remember that once confirmed, a bet cannot be reverted.

Pros and Cons of Online Gambling in NC

Not only the legislature sees an opportunity in North Carolina online gambling sites. Visiting players from the state are also keen on the promotions and abundance of betting markets that are available online. See how that stacks up to what offline gambling has to offer.

If you are keen on the improved convenience of betting on your phone and having access wherever you go, you should go for online gambling. If betting is more of an experience for you than anything else, then we suggest you find a nearby betting shop with an accommodating atmosphere.

Land-based Casinos, Kiosks, Racetracks

North Carolina is home to several racetracks, primarily hosting NASCAR and other motorsports. The most notable venues include Charlotte Motor Speedway, Rockingham Speedway, and North Wilkesboro Speedway. Fans of dirt tracks can visit Dixieland Speedway, which hosts stock car races every Friday.

While you can enjoy watching fast cards trading paint, you cannot bet on the action at any of the mentioned racetracks. The same goes for horse racing. There are no designated venues for pari-mutuel and horse race betting.

In-person sports betting is limited to tribal casinos Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel. As is, these two gambling facilities have a legal permit to offer sports betting. They had to partner with major sportsbooks in order to offer retail sports betting.

North Carolina Gambling Laws

The gambling laws of North Carolina are notably restrictive, confining the activity to tribal casinos and limited forms of state-run lottery games. Tribal casinos are the go-to place for slot machines, table games, and for when you want to bet on sports in person.

They benefit from an agreement with the state allowing them to host all the abovementioned casino games and sports betting. As we can see, things are not the same when it comes to conducting the same activities on the Internet. The state has only recently allowed for online sportsbooks to start serving NC players.

Our investigation delved into the legal framework surrounding online gambling, uncovering that the state’s laws largely exclude online gambling, with exceptions primarily around fantasy sports and recent moves toward sports betting.

Online Casino Laws in North Carolina

So far, online casino gambling remains outside the purview of legal betting options. There currently isn’t legislation authorizing online casinos, and consequently, the only games of chance you can play are hosted on the website of the NC Education Lottery.

Our legal team recommends that you abstain from playing anything considered “casino games” online for the time being. There’s no legal framework to guarantee that you and your money are protected. We only recommend playing on licensed and regulated gambling websites.

NC Online Sports Betting Laws

Sports betting is a big part of online gambling in NC now that some of the best sportsbooks are finally available on the Internet. Filed by Representative Jason Saine, bill HB 347 was the stepping stone to where online sports betting in the state is currently. This bill authorized 12 sports betting companies to offer their services to state residents.

The initial conditions were amended later to require all betting brands applying for a license to have an agreement with a professional sports organization. Regarding players, the law asks that you be at least 21 if you want to gamble at online sportsbooks.

Daily Fantasy Laws in North Carolina

The North Carolina Lottery Commission has decided to put off the legalization of daily fantasy sports to prioritize the launch of sports betting^[1]. There are no laws banning fantasy sports per se, but there isn’t a regulated market, either. As a result, you are free to log in and play on the platforms of the best DFS service providers.

Online Poker Laws in North Carolina

Currently, you can’t find online rooms to play poker from North Carolina. If you trust your poker face, you can try your hand at the regular tournaments in the poker hall of Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. However, you won’t be able to participate in anything that constitutes online tournament poker.

Online Lottery Laws in North Carolina

The state has an education lottery whose goal is to raise money for educational purposes. Nonprofit and charitable organizations are also permitted to organize bingo games and raffles. The advertisement of games of this type that don’t fit the criteria for a legal activity is considered a class 2 misdemeanor^[2].

History of Gambling in North Carolina

While the history of internet gambling in North Carolina is relatively short, efforts to establish the industry date way back. The law has been changing to reflect the current sentiment towards gambling. For example, between 1809 and 1835, the first lottery was introduced and then banned.

North Carolina Facts

We admit that North Carolina isn’t the most permissive state regarding online gambling, but there are many interesting facts to learn and places to visit there. Our research team found intriguing data that can explain a lot if you are not familiar with life in the state.

North Carolina Gambling Age

In North Carolina, the legal gambling age is set at 21 for casinos and 18 for lottery and bingo, in line with the commitment to protecting the youth. The state enforces strict regulations against underage gambling, so the casino reserves its right to ask you for proof of identity at any time.

Lottery and bingo have a lighter age requirement because the law recognizes those games as not as addictive as sports betting and the games played in casinos. We searched for regulations in regard to drinking and marijuana and found out that age is an essential factor again.

• Legal Gambling Age
  Players aged 21+ can play at one of the tribal casinos in North Carolina or bet at a licensed sports betting site.
• Legal Drinking Age
  The legal drinking age in NC, without exception, is 21+.
• Legal Age for Marijuana
  Recreational use of cannabis is not permitted. Legislation has been submitted to permit medical use.

Responsible Gambling and Addiction Prevention

Like any state that has legal forms of gambling, North Carolina has its fair share of problem gamblers. If you feel like you may have a problem gambling responsibly, you can turn for help to the dedicated services. A great example is the website of the organization More Than a Game.

There is a very effective way to block your access to websites for online gambling in North Carolina. That’s the Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program of the North Carolina State Lottery Commission. To enroll, you just need to fill out an online form.

Upcoming Regulation and Expected Changes

Now that sports betting is finally legalized, we expect fantasy sports to be next, as they, currently, are a gray area. There are no promises yet made by government officials, so we can’t be sure whether what we expect will come to pass at all. However, we remain committed to following the latest developments in internet gambling in North California. There might be interesting partnerships, such as that of BetMGM and the Charlotte Motor Speedway^[1], coming in the future, so we’ll keep you updated.

References

1. Chapin, Josh, Lottery commission reveals sports betting start date of March 11, NC Sports Betting, (January 25, 2024), Retrieved March 20, 2024
2. Article 37. Lotteries, Gaming, Bingo and Raffles. Part 1. Lotteries and Gaming, North Carolina General Assembly, Retrieved March 20, 2024

Our Most Popular Gambling Guides

• Virginia
• Florida
• Tennessee
• New York