North Carolina Legal Online Sports Betting Guide For 2024
The complexities surrounding the legal status of sports betting anywhere in the US, including North Carolina, seem to drive many sports fans away from the legitimate betting options available to them. Or worse, this misconception can lead unsuspecting bettors to the undesirable or questionable betting destinations which are not licensed or legal operations.
This unpleasant scenario is one of the primary reasons that we decided to create this guide. If we can assist sports bettors in making informed decisions that result in a high quality, legitimate betting experience from a legal sportsbook destination, then we’ve done our job.
This website will address the legalities of betting on sports in North Carolina, as well as which legal sports gambling opportunities are available for residents of the Tar Heel State. We also provide a helpful guide to betting on North Carolina football teams, and plan to expand to include other sports categories over time.
Top 5 Ranked Legal Online Sportsbooks Accepting NC Players In 2024
| Site Name | Promotion | US Friendly | Rating /5 | Play Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada Sportsbook | 50% Max $1,000 | 4.8 | Play Now | |
| Betonline Sportsbook | 50% Max $1,000 | 4.4 | Play Now | |
| Bookmaker Sportsbook | 100% Max $500 | 4.3 | Play Now | |
| BetUS Sportsbook | 125% Max $3,125 | 4.2 | Play Now | |
| SB Sportsbook | 50% Max $1,000 | 3.9 | Play Now |
Is it legal to bet on sports in North Carolina As Of 2024?
The answer to this question rests solely on the destination at which you are placing your bets. It is illegal to operate an online or offline sportsbook in North Carolina. This is due to two specific federal laws which govern sports betting in the United States, the Federal Wire Act and the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act.
State laws do not address online gambling or sports betting, and while these laws may combine to make it illegal to operate a sports betting business within the USA, they do not prohibit bettors in the US, including those in NC, from participating at legally licensed and regulated sports gambling sites that are located outside of the United States.
Neither of the US federal laws governing sports betting apply to offshore sportsbooks, and as long as you restrict your betting action to only legal gambling destinations, then you will not be violating any laws of the state of North Carolina or the United States federal government. For in depth examination of the state laws and statutes, you can visit the North Carolina State Legislature website.
What Is the Minimum Legal Gambling Age in North Carolina?
The minimum gambling age for residents of North Carolina is 21. The state takes under age gambling violations seriously in an attempt to ensure that minors do not get involved. Those who participate in under age gambling will face still penalties for doing so, which usually includes loss of all your funds from your gaming session.
Now it may be somewhat confusing to understand what is and is not allowed when some of the sportsbook brands actually accept players with a minimum age of 18 years old. Their acceptance of younger players does not supersede state law in NC that clearly states gamblers must be 21 years of age in order to legally participate.
We recommend that you adhere to this requirement and do not consider violating this requirement.
How Do I Locate Legal North Carolina Sports Betting Sites?
Visiting only legally licensed and regulated sportsbooks is the key to keeping your sports betting completely legal. In all honesty, this is not always easy to do. The illegitimate sites effectively mimic the legal brands, and those who are not highly experienced in recognizing fraudulent business operations may find it very difficult to recognize the good from the bad.
Each site that is included in our guide has been carefully vetted by our team of professionals, and are verified to hold legitimate licensing and certifications. They are also regulated by a respected governing jurisdiction that is able to legally offer their services to North Carolina residents.
We have also evaluated their security profile, betting lines, and overall performance and services to determine the value they bring to the business. You will access a safe, reputable and high quality betting experience at any of the options listed on this page.
North Carolina Betting Trends
The Carolina Panthers
Known primarily for dozens of racetracks and more than a few minor league baseball teams, the state of North Carolina certainly takes its sports seriously. However, you can also find a couple of professional sports teams within the state, and they’re actually quite popular on a nationwide scale. The first, of course, is the Carolina Panthers.
An expansion team in the mid ’90s, the Panthers were actually Super Bowl favorites for their first years of existence. And while they fell off the map completely about a decade ago, they’re again starting to turn heads behind the leadership of Cam Newton, a strong-armed and fast QB out of Auburn.
The Panthers had plenty of opportunities to win their division last year, but injuries really hurt them. They did end up winning, but their playoff bid didn’t go as expected. After an impressive win over the Arizona Cardinals, the Panthers fell victim to a hot Seattle team and lost 31-17 in Seahawks’ territory.
All told, ATS (against the spread) last year, they were an even 9-9. Their best showing was with home underdog status where they went 2-1. They didn’t put up great numbers for gamblers, but they did better than expected.
This year, the Panthers are again suffering from key injuries. Their #1 receiver is out for the year, and they have a weaker running attack. However, with a better defense, we predict that the Panthers will be in more games and thus cover more spreads. They won’t be a lock, but we can see a 10-6 ATS record for the regular season, and possibly even better if they can avoid the Packers in the playoffs.
The Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte got rid of its NBA team not too long ago. But when North Carolina alum Michael Jordan wanted to buy a team, Charlotte bent over backwards to make that happen, and the Hornets popped back up a couple of years ago. Since then, they have basically been the whipping post of the NBA, but they do try very hard to pick up free agents in the off-season and to really compete in games. This level of competition means that, while losing, Charlotte certainly is no pushover.
ATS, they were 39-41-2, which means they did worse than 50% but weren’t a guaranteed loss. They actually did better than 50% as underdogs, going 25-22-2. Will they be better this season upcoming? The smart money says that the Hornets will probably be about the same. They didn’t make any big moves in the draft, and they don’t have the talent yet capable of competing with teams like the Hawks or Cavs or the Bulls. Maybe they can pull it together in a few years, but for next season they’re not a safe bet.