North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper recently signed a sports betting and horseracing wagering bill into law, according to a local report from the Winston-Salem Journal.
The State Lottery Commission has been working to set up an infrastructure for both in-person and mobile betting, by drafting governing regulations and rules that include responsible betting procedures for both mobile and horseracing wagering.
House Bill 347 will take effect January 8, 2024. Governor Cooper referred to the legislation as a “historic moment for the state of North Carolina, and one that will benefit the economy for generations to come.”
According to the state commission, mobile sports betting could take until June 14, 2024 to become fully operational. However, the initial launch was set January 8, 2024. The bill states, "Sports wagering shall not be authorized in the State until a date identified by the [Lottery] Commission, which shall occur as soon as practicable and may be no later than twelve months after the date this act becomes law."
Commission Chair Ripley Rand told the Winston-Salem Journal, “This commission and the staff have been tasked with the enormous responsibility of licensing and regulating the newly enacted wagering activities, while at the same time maintaining the quality work and highest standards of integrity with the lottery.”
Rand went on to add that the Commission said it is committed to finish establishing its network within a reasonable amount of time.
He said in closing, “The commission and staff are committed to ensuring the job is done in a complete, professional, transparent and timely manner.
“We will keep the public up to date about when these programs will launch.”
Since the Supreme Court repealed PASPA in 2018, online gambling is currently available in more than 35 states, with 18 of those allowing for legal online sports wagering.
