Two casinos currently offer in-person sports wagering in North Carolina. Those are the Harrah’s-branded venues owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Located in the western part of the state, the venues introduced their in-person sportsbooks in March last year. Now, according to a new report, there will be a third in-person sportsbook opening in North Carolina.
Two Kings Casino to Offer In-Person Sports Betting
Glen White, a spokesman for Delaware North, spoke to WRAL News last week Friday. He revealed that The Catawba Nation, which owns Two Kings Casino, plans to open the third in-person sportsbook venue in North Carolina just in time for the start of the football season. While The Catawba Nation is currently planning a permanent casino resort, for the moment, Two Kings is operating out of a temporary location just off Interstate 85.
Given the timeline unveiled by White, it looks like there will be a third in-person sports betting venue in North Carolina by this autumn. The NFL is set to kick off on September 8, while college football games start earlier – on August 27. Additional details regarding the exact date are yet to be released.
NC’s Online Sports Betting Still in Limbo
It was back in 2018 when the US Supreme Court cleared the path for statewide legalization of sports betting, following PASPA’s (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) repeal. In July 2019, North Carolina legalized the activity with overwhelming support. With that in mind, sports betting was restricted to land-based venues.
Now, lawmakers in the state are considering the legalization of online sports betting as well. There are two bills that pave the way for the activity. If the proposals go forward, the activity may be launched as early as January 1, 2023. Under the proposals that are bein considered, there would be up to a dozen mobile sports betting operators in the state.
While one of the bills, Senate Bill 38, proposing online sports betting gained traction, Senate Bill 688 didn’t advance last week. The initial approval received by Senate Bill 38 means that it would need to go through another vote of the House. At the same time, considering that the bills depend on each other, it remains unclear whether lawmakers will give the green light and launch online sports wagering early next year or delay the process further.