North Carolina Mobile Sports Betting Could be Next Week

Mobile sports betting in North Carolina could become legal by next week.

A bill, aimed at possibly bringing up to 12 legal mobile sportsbooks to the State, was filed at North Carolina House on Monday by Republican Jason Saine.

Referred to as HB 347, the bill is similar to one lodged last year which failed by just one vote. The difference in this year’s bill is the inclusion of college sports betting.

And Saine, a Lincoln County Republican and sponsor of the legislation, is confident this year’s bill will win over the House. He even believes it could be voted on next week.

“This bill is a bipartisan bill and we’ve learned a good bit from both sides about some of the tweaks that needed to happen,” he said.

 “We’ve worked to accommodate those concerns, and we believe we have a bill that can do better than pass. It can get broad support from both caucuses.”

If accepted by the House, the bill would allow betting on professional, college, electronic and Olympic sports. At present North Carolina only permits retail sports betting at tribal casinos. Should the bill pass in North Carolina, tribes would also be allowed to offer mobile sports gambling. But, their mobile apps wouldn’t count in terms of the 12 approved licences that would be offered to operators. The cost of a licence would be a $1 million, renewable every five years.

Licenses and regulation would be overseen by the North Carolina State Lottery Commission, with operators paying 14 per cent tax on gross wagering revenue. But this figure could be offset against bonuses or promotional credits until 2026.

Tax received from gambling (Saine puts the figure at around £50 million annually) would double the State’s current Problem Gambling Program, which currently has a budget of $1 million. This offers treatment and education for individuals in gambling matters.

Saine’s bill already has support from the House majority leader, Republican John Bell, as well as Democrats Zack Hawkins and Ashton Clemmons.

It is also welcomed by pro sports teams in the state, many of whom are keen to have sports lounges – where gamblers could bet online – at their premises. These include Raleigh’s PNC Arena, Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, Cary’s WakeMed Soccer Park and Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium and Spectrum Center.

College sports is a contentious part of the bill, so too is the fact that accounts can be funded with a credit card.