RALEIGH — Online betting operators began accepting sports bets in North Carolina for the first time in the state’s history on Monday at noon; Gov. Roy Cooper is taking part as well.
Cooper placed a bet on the Carolina Hurricanes to capture the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup trophy. He said the winnings will be donated to the Carolina Hurricanes Foundation, which helps children’s charities.
“The legalization of sports betting will provide a significant boost to North Carolina’s economy and will allow our thriving sports industry to continue to grow,” said Governor Cooper.
Passed last year, House Bill 347 charges the North Carolina State Lottery Commission with regulating sports wagering and makes it responsible for issuing licenses and collecting any license application fees. Licenses will be valid for five years and types of licenses include interactive sports wagering license, service provider license and sports wagering supplier license.
The legislation created two ways to place a sports wager: in-person at a place of public accommodation or as a registered player via an interactive account. The interactive sports wagering operator would be responsible for ensuring the identity and age of any person trying to place a wager.
To bet, a person must be at least 21 years of age. Sports wagers are authorized on professional sports, college sports, electronic sports, amateur sports or any other event approved by the cmmission.
Eight vendors have been issued licenses to operate online sportsbooks in North Carolina: FanDuel, BETMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics, ESPN BET, Underdog Sports and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
The legislation also provided $2 million to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services for gambling addiction education and treatment programs.
In preparation for the launch of sports betting, NCDHHS refocused prevention programs and education programs for treatment providers to concentrate more heavily on sports betting. Some of the initiatives to support people experiencing problem gambling include:
- Partnering with EPIC Risk Management to provide prevention education on college campuses about risks associated with sports betting
- Funding the Gambling Research and Policy Initiative and working with ECU to better research and understand gambling behavior, attitudes and risks
- Partnering with Tar Heel Athletics to promote problem gambling and responsible gaming campaign during March Madness
- Supporting NC Problem Gambling Programs to provide prevention education for college students at Duke University, UNC Chapel Hill, High Point University and Chowan University this spring
- Working with UNC Behavioral Health Springboard to put together learning modules for behavioral health providers on prevention of and treatment of youth problem gambling
- Offering Youth Prevention Grants to middle schools, high schools and community organizations to implement gambling, gaming and digital media youth prevention curriculum
- Partnering with Freedom House of Mecklenburg Inc. and Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools to incorporate problem gambling awareness into the health curriculum for 14,000 7th grade health classes
Those seeking help with gambling addiction can call the North Carolina Problem Gambling Hotline at 877-718-5543, text morethanagamenc to 53342 or visit the morethanagame.nc.gov website. Additionally, those seeking mental health assistance can call or text 988 any time or call 1-855 PEERS NC to talk with someone who has similar experiences. Both services are free, confidential and available 24/7, 365 days a year.
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