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Summary:
- The North Carolina Lottery Commission unanimously voted for a certificate of compliance approving retail sports betting.
- This means operators can start integrating retail operations with the mobile market.
- It is still uncertain when and where retail sports betting will become available.
North Carolina has taken another important step forward toward integrating retail sports betting with its already lucrative mobile wagering market.
Namely, on Wednesday, the North Carolina Lottery Commission decided to unanimously approve a critical compliance certificate proposal which now enables state regulators to begin the process of launching in-person sports betting facilities. This comes after the Commission’s sports betting committee unanimously voted toward a proposed pari-mutuel rule-making last week.
No Official Launch Details Yet
While there is no confirmed start date or specific locations for retail sports betting, the approval of the compliance certificate is a critical step in getting physical sportsbooks operational in the Tar Heel State.
Following previous discussions, retail sports betting is expected to be housed either at or near important sports venues in the state, including the PNC Arena, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Bank of America Stadium, and Quail Hollow Golf Club.
Some voices claim the people of North Carolina have already missed out on in-person wagering opportunities during major sporting events since the legalization of sports betting last year, with emphasis on the start of the football season and critical PGA and NASCAR events that took place over the summer.
The state that chose to first launch mobile betting in March due to the simpler implementation procedure is now preparing for the NBA and NHL seasons that will kickstart in October, followed by college basketball in November.
This means the quicker the logistics are decided upon, the better for North Carolina’s potential revenue from retail sportsbooks.
Since its grand opening this spring, mobile wagering has managed to generate more than $2 billion in wagers along with $275 million in revenue, bringing the state no less than $50 million in taxes.
During Wednesday’s meeting, Gaming Compliance and Sports Betting’s deputy executive director, Sterl Carpenter, commented on the complexity of opening retail sport betting venues.
There is a great deal that goes into opening this space, It’s almost like a tiny casino.
To obtain and maintain the highly-anticipated certificates that would allow them to open a permanent retail sportsbook, operators will need to meet a series of requirements.
Among them, we can mention being in good standing with regulators, obtaining all the necessary lab certifications, sending in all operational documents, and passing all on-site inspections with flying colors.
The certificate does not apply to temporary facilities or pari-mutuel wagering.
The Lottery Commission’s staff will be responsible for coordinating with individual operators to get their facilities fully operational.
Inches Closer to Esports Wagers
Wednesday was also a good day for esports fans. The Lottery Commission unanimously approved a proposal that lays the groundwork for esports wagering.
The petition delves into six sections to get all the information that will be needed to educate and inform staff on whether an esports event will have enough oversight and security to allow for wagering in the state of North Carolina
The esports guidance documents will be shared with licensed sports betting operators and made publicly available on the N.C. Lottery’s website.
