CHARLOTTE — Sports betting was discontinued several months ago. However, legally you cannot do that.
Lottery officials announced last month that sports betting would not begin on Jan. 8, the first day it could legally begin. Earlier this week, Lottery officials said it likely wouldn’t be ready by the Super Bowl.
“There are questions about whether sports betting will be ready in time for the Super Bowl,” North Carolina Lottery Commission Chairman Ripley Rand said in a news release. “However, all that remains to be done, and given the timeline set forth by state law, it is unfortunately clear that this will not happen.”
Bet Carolina sports betting analyst Steve Bittenbender predicts it will be ready by March Madness.
[ PAST COVERAGE: Mobile sports betting won’t be legal in NC by Super Bowl; progress being made ]
Rand said the commission could be in a position to announce a start date in early 2024. The deadline for sports betting to begin is June 15th.
“So that people can bet on Duke, bet on Carolina, bet on their other favorite teams,” he said.
Details of past coverage:
The Lottery Commission declined Channel 9’s request for an interview.
In the months since the sports betting bill was signed into law, the committee has been doing mostly behind-the-scenes work. In the meantime, the authority has hired a deputy executive director to lead the gaming organization, added legal and licensing staff, hired gaming companies to assist with testing and certification, and has hired gaming companies to assist with testing and certification, according to Sports Wagering Commission Chair Kari Boyce. Approved the first set of rules. The website has been launched and the application for license and gambling catalog has been approved.
The approval of the license application means operators like Draft Kings can now apply, officials said. The commission says applications must be received and completed by Dec. 27.
According to the Lottery Commission, you still need to:
1. Accurately understand the number of license applicants.
2. Complete the initial rules creation process for sports betting.
3. Complete background checks on applicants and their key personnel.
4. Approve the supplier’s temporary license.
5. Ensure that the licensed operator’s proposed internal controls are robust and compliant, and that key equipment and software are certified by independent laboratories.
Bittenbender said North Carolina’s rollout process has been slower than other states such as Kentucky and Indiana. He said he moved faster so he could be ready by the start of the NFL season.
“If football isn’t ready, maybe the state and maybe the sports books can take a little bit more time to get ready without rushing,” he said.
Online and mobile gambling is not legal in North Carolina, but you can legally wager at the state’s three tribal casinos, including the casino at Kings Mountain.
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