Sports betting in the end zone: What you need to know about upcoming NC law changes

Legalizing sports betting in North Carolina is in the end zone after a completed pass in the General Assembly on Wednesday. It has been sent to the governor for the final score.

The state House of Representatives voted 69-44 in favor of the bill on Wednesday, the final vote needed for legislation that took multiple years to pass.

Here’s what you need to know about what’s in the bill, and what’s next.

When would betting start?

Within 12 months of it becoming law. The Lottery Commission, tasked with regulating sports wagering, would determine the exact date it starts. A previous version of the measure would have started it on Jan. 8, 2024. That would mean the latest wagers could start would be in June 2024.

How many sports betting operators will there be?

The state would grant licenses for up to 12 sports wagering operators.

How old do you have to be to wager?

You must be at least 21 years old.

What would I be able to bet on?

▪ Professional sports

▪ College sports

▪ Electronic sports

▪ Amateur sports

▪ Pari-mutuel betting on horse racing

Are there sports I cannot bet on?

Betting on youth sports will remain illegal.

What arenas will have sports betting?

Eight current sporting arenas will be able to have sports betting on site. Under the law, facilities that would qualify must:

▪ Annually host more than one NASCAR national touring race.

▪ Host a professional golf tournament with more than 50,000 people attending in person.

▪ Serve as the home arena for professional sports teams in the MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL and NWSL. That includes PNC Arena in Raleigh, which is home to the Carolina Hurricanes; Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, which is home to the Carolina Panthers, and the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, which is home to the Hornets.

Will the governor sign it into law?

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper didn’t fully commit, but the answer is likely yes.

“I think it’s an important source of revenue for people of North Carolina,” Cooper told reporters at an unrelated event on Monday.

“This is happening now. And we, the taxpayers, might as well get the benefit. We need to continue to study it diligently before I sign it, but I do support the effort,” Cooper said.

Once the bill reaches his desk, the governor has 10 days to take action or it becomes law without his signature.

Can I read the actual bill?

Yes. It is Senate Bill 347 and all bill documents are online at the ncleg.gov website.

Who are the lawmakers sponsoring the bill?

There are dozens of bill sponsors from both parties, but four lead sponsors: Rep. Jason Saine, a Lincolnton Republican and head budget writer; Rep. John Bell, the House majority leader and a Wayne County Republican; Rep. Zack Hawkins, a Durham Democrat; and Rep. Ashton Wheeler Clemmons, a Greensboro Democrat.

Pros vs. cons

Opposition to the bill has centered on the morality of gambling itself, of potentially encouraging gambling problems and benefiting the corporate sports betting operators.

During final House debate on Wednesday, Rep. Pricey Harrison, a Guilford County Democrat, called it a “predatory bill,” and expressed disappointment that horse racing was added in the Senate version of the bill, citing recent deaths of racing thoroughbred horses.

Supporters of legalizing sports betting, including Cooper, have noted that taxpayers would benefit from something already happening in the state.

What colleges would benefit from betting?

There are 13 UNC System colleges, including four HBCUs, that would receive money for their athletic programs. Legislative researchers estimate the schools would receive $1.2 million in 2024-25, with the amount increasing in subsequent years. The schools are:

▪ Elizabeth City State University

▪ Fayetteville State University

▪ N.C. A&T State University

▪ N.C. Central University

▪ UNC-Asheville

▪ UNC-Greensboro

▪ UNC-Pembroke

▪ UNC-Wilmington

▪ Western Carolina University

▪ Winston-Salem State University

▪ Appalachian State University

▪ East Carolina University

▪ UNC-Charlotte

Would betting operators be taxed?

Yes, the tax rate for sports betting operators would be 18% of gross wagering revenue.

Does any money go to helping with gambling problems?

Yes, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services would receive $2 million a year for gambling addiction, education and treatment programs in the state.

What about casinos?

The legislature is also considering allowing casinos to be built in certain areas of the state as part of entertainment districts, but there is not a bill yet. Casinos are allowed on Native American owned land, like in Cherokee.

Cooper told reporters on Monday that if North Carolina was to allow them, “I would want to know how it’s going to be handled. Who is going to run them? What percentage does the state get?”

“I think those details would make a difference in what my decision would be on it. I mean, clearly, we have surrounding states now that are going to be pulling North Carolinians to them, to invest their money. So the state of North Carolina ought to make sure that we are competitive,” he said.