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DraftKings and BetMGM secure market access in North Carolina

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DraftKings and BetMGM secure market access in North Carolina


DraftKings and BetMGM have struck market access agreements in North Carolina head of the Tarheel State launching its legal sports betting market.

Both arrangements cover sports wagering in North Carolina. DraftKings will part with stock-car racing series Nascar and BetMGM the Charlotte Motor Speedway in the state.

Under DraftKings’ deal with Nascar, the operator becomes the series’ exclusive daily fantasy sports partner in the US and Canada. DraftKings will also be an authorised gaming operator of NASCAR and secure additional sponsorship benefits across Nascar.

Subject to regulatory and licence approvals, North Carolina will become the 27th US state in which DraftKings is active. This comes after it also secured approval in Vermont last month.

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“DraftKings and Nascar have collaborated closely with each other over the years, sharing a like-minded commitment to enhancing the fan experience,” DraftKings North America president Matt Kalish said. “We look forward to the next chapter in our journey together and offering our leading mobile sportsbook to fans in the state of North Carolina.”

Nascar’s managing director for sports betting, Joe Solosky, added: “DraftKings has a proven track record of enhancing the fan experience across sports. We are thrilled to continue working with DraftKings to deliver Nascar fans more engagement opportunities and bring its leading mobile sportsbook to North Carolina.” 

Local partner for BetMGM 

As for BetMGM, the MGM Resorts-Entain joint venture will work with the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Located in Concord, North Carolina, the complex regularly hosts Nascar racing.

BetMGM also said its planned launch hinges on regulatory and licence approval in the state. The operator added that it expects North Carolina market to open before the end of Q1.

“BetMGM’s partnership with Charlotte Motor Speedway meets a great demand for entertainment from North Carolinians,” BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt said. “Together. we will deliver a premier and responsible gaming product that benefits many state agencies.”

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Charlotte Motor Speedway executive vice president and general manager Greg Walter also welcomed the partnership. He said: “With Charlotte Motor Speedway’s history of innovation, we wanted to move forward into this new era of sports entertainment with a progressive sportsbook. 

“This partnership with BetMGM will bring sports fans new ways to enjoy their favourite events while expanding North Carolina’s tax base, supporting colleges and facilitating recruitment of major events for the future.”

North Carolina edges closer to legal sports betting launch

As stated by BetMGM, it is hoped that North Carolina could commence legal sports betting within the next few months. However, an official launch date has not yet been announced, despite governor Roy Cooper signing House Bill 347 into law in June, officially legalising wagering.

In December, the North Carolina State Lottery Commission approved applications for sports betting licensure. This meant operators were able to begin applying for licences in the state.

While this took the state closer to launching legal betting, Commission chair Ripley Rand said actually opening the market will depend on a number of factors. Primarily, this will hinge on how long the application process takes.

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Rand said the Commission will need to review all applications and supporting information. It will also need to complete background checks and analyse all internal control details before it can set a launch date.

The Commission has 60 days to review each application and operators have 10 days to make any changes flagged.

With both DraftKings and BetMGM securing market access, this suggests the mooted Q1 launch date could be accurate. Last month, ESPN Bet also linked up with the PGA Tour to roll out its offering in North Carolina.

Fanatics and FanDuel Group are also among the major brands said to be seeking a licence in the state.

What about the rules?

Against the background of these market access agreements remains something of an air of uncertainty. The state is yet to agree on a final set of sports betting rules.

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Certain measures were set out in the bill that was signed off last spring. These include bets being permitted across college sports, esports and other sports matches authorised by the Commission. 

Tax is set at 18% of each licence holder’s gross gaming revenue. This was previously 14% but was later amended in the Senate. 

There is also a stipulation whereby operators must have a written designation agreement with a sports team, league or venue in order to launch sports betting.

An initial set of rules published in October also included a ban on pick’em-style daily fantasy sports (DFS) games.

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North Carolina

NC Lottery Lucky For Life, Pick 3 Day results for Nov. 17, 2024

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The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024 results for each game:

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Nov. 17 drawing

10-20-26-28-42, Lucky Ball: 02

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Nov. 17 drawing

Day: 1-8-6, Fireball: 1

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Evening: 4-6-6, Fireball: 1

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Nov. 17 drawing

Day: 7-9-3-7, Fireball: 6

Evening: 2-8-2-7, Fireball: 8

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Cash 5 numbers from Nov. 17 drawing

12-17-27-32-41

Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Double Play numbers from Nov. 17 drawing

12-13-19-21-29

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All North Carolina Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.

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For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at North Carolina Lottery Offices. By mail, send a prize claim form, your signed lottery ticket, copies of a government-issued photo ID and social security card to: North Carolina Education Lottery, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629. Prize claims less than $600 do not require copies of photo ID or a social security card.

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a prize claim form and deliver the form, along with your signed lottery ticket and government-issued photo ID and social security card to any of these locations:

  • Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center: 16-G Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 877-625-6886 press #1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
  • Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center: 20A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 877-625-6886 press #2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
  • Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center: 5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269-1861, 877-625-6886 press #3. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
  • NC Lottery Headquarters: Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office, 2728 Capital Blvd., Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604, 877-625-6886 press #4. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
  • Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center: 2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27834, 877-625-6886 press #5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
  • Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center: 123 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Suite 140, Wilmington, NC 28405, 877-625-6886 press #6. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://nclottery.com/.

When are the North Carolina Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
  • Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
  • Pick 3, 4: 3:00 p.m. and 11:22 p.m. daily.
  • Cash 5: 11:22 p.m. daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Carolina Connect editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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NBA Draft: North Carolina’s Elliot Cadeau has Made a Noticeable Leap in his Sophomore Season

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NBA Draft: North Carolina’s Elliot Cadeau has Made a Noticeable Leap in his Sophomore Season


North Carolina’s sophomore guard Elliot Cadeau appears to have made an impressive leap in his second year of collegiate play. While he is a smaller guard at 6-foot-1, his offensive feel and playmaking ability have been two of the most impressive aspects of the Tar Heels’ roster. In a draft class that has looked loaded up to this point, the door could still be wide open for Cadeau to work his way onto teams’ draft boards, despite an underwhelming freshman season. Let’s take a look at his areas of improvement so far this season and why he could be one of the best table-setters in this class.

In his freshman season, Cadeau struggled to find ways to make a consistent impact, with averages of seven points, two rebounds and four assists on shooting splits of 41.7%/18.9%/64.8%. He was a highly touted recruit, so these struggles were disappointing, but so far this season, he has shown why colleges were so high on him by making drastic leaps in every category. Through North Carolina’s first three games this season, he is averaging 15.7 points, three rebounds, 7.7 assists and 2.7 steals on much more efficient shooting: 48.1% from the field, 40% from three and 73.9% on free throws. While these numbers come from a small sample size, his seamless fit and consistent aggressiveness offer hope that this could be a season-long leap.

Cadeau’s passing has stood out the most; he has recorded eight assists twice against weaker teams, along with seven assists in a 92-89 loss to No. 1 Kansas. He navigates pick-and-rolls at an elite level but also shows the ability to find teammates off touch passes while the ball is swinging along the perimeter. It’s clear that he is at his best when putting the ball on the floor, and this is also true for his scoring.

He looks much more confident this season when taking jump shots, as his form is clean and smooth on pull-ups. Last season, he seemed hesitant at times, and overthinking hurt not only his productivity but the Tar Heels’ offense as well. While North Carolina has several legitimate scoring options on the team, his ability to be their third-leading scorer at this point has been very impressive.

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On the defensive side of the ball, Cadeau leads the Tar Heels in steals with 2.7 per game, while the second-highest average is 1.0. He is showing a much higher motor than last season and does not hesitate to take calculated risks in passing lanes. While his size will likely be a concern for defending at the next level, continuing to be a pest both on and off the ball should allow him to remain impactful against higher levels of competition.

These first three games surely won’t tell the whole story ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft, but it’s undeniable that he has looked like a much better prospect in his second season for North Carolina. It’s not a foregone conclusion that he will leave after this year, but he has an opportunity to continue expanding his game as the season progresses, which could help highlight how valuable he can be in running an offense.

Want to join the discussion? Like Draft Digest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest NBA Draft news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.





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‘Our roots run deep’: Winter Lights returns to North Carolina Arboretum, delighting visitors

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‘Our roots run deep’: Winter Lights returns to North Carolina Arboretum, delighting visitors


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ASHEVILLE — The North Carolina Arboretum had just more than six weeks after Tropical Storm Helene wreaked havoc and downed thousands of trees on its 434-acre campus to try and pull off its biggest annual fundraiser, Winter Lights, but the team pulled it off.

Though there was some uncertainty whether the event would take place this year after Helene, Winter Lights opened Nov. 15, one of Western North Carolina’s first signal of a return to the traditions and routines families took part in prior to Helene’s floods Sept. 27.

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According to Drake Fowler, the North Carolina Arboretum’s executive director, when the Arboretum team made it back to the site to assess the damage, there were roughly 600 downed trees near the entrance alone.

“Two days after the storm, horticulture showed up and basically with chainsaws, they cut into our property,” Fowler said. “The first thing they did was clear Wesley Branch Road, which was pretty much blocked. The community was out cheering them on, and that allowed supplies to get in to us.”

In all, Fowler and the Arboretum team estimate there are roughly 10,000 downed trees throughout the property.

Return of Winter Lights ‘a huge milestone’ for Arboretum

Due to the extensive damage, Fowler said staff wondered whether Winter Lights would be able to go on.

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“There was definitely some doubt whether we were going to even have a chance at a show,” Fowler said. “But with the Army Corps’ help, and with just our staff, we repurposed staff and people that normally do not hang Christmas lights were hanging Christmas lights to make it happen. So, it’s a huge milestone for our organization.”

Fowler said the Arboretum staff typically begins preparing for Winter Lights the first week of September, but Helene forced the team to start over again, having only six weeks of prep time, compared to the usual 10 to 12 weeks.

Winter Lights accounts for 25% of the nonprofit organization’s operating income, Fowler said.

“So, in a way, we had to have the show move forward.”

Winter Lights is in its 11th season and will run through Dec. 31.

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Winter Lights is a walk-through experience in and around the gardens and admission is per vehicle. Tickets are $40 per vehicle. According to the Arboretum, 428 tickets were sold Saturday night, with about three to four people per vehicle.

Fowler said Winter Lights is an important tradition for a lot of families during the holidays, and affords people an opportunity to participate in customs that feel familiar, even if this year may feel different than years past.

“I think just not having one other thing cancelled was a great relief to a lot of people in the community,” he said. “There’s certain things that just aren’t open. It’s an outdoor walking show, it feels good to be outside and be with other people in an area that just kind of feels normal.

“A big part of our emphasis is, ‘Let’s make this a joyful event.’ For the most part, we just want it to be an escape, a place to feel normal and celebrate the holidays.”

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That’s exactly what Saturday night’s show was for hundreds of visitors. Under a full moon, kids squealed at thousand-light displays and ran through sparkling tunnels.

Below a shining Christmas tree, Jessica Shelton sat with her daughter Reese, who sipped hot chocolate. Shelton and her husband brought their three kids to the Arboretum to celebrate their six-year-old son’s birthday.

“It’s just nice to have a little joy after all the area has experienced,” said Shelton, who said their home did not sustain damage from Helene.

Nearby, visitors wrote down their wishes for the holiday on paper and hung them like ornaments on small fir trees.

Be kind. Play soccer. Have Fun. one read. Another wish: PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE OF WNC.

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The Arboretum staff has been intentional about incorporating the experience of Helene into this year’s Winter Lights event.

“We had these beautiful Lacebark Elms that came down in the hurricane, and we’ve left them as basically like a tribute, and we’ve lit them with white light for hope,” Fowler said. “Our staff took some of the debris, and there’s a great photo opportunity that says, ‘Our roots run deep,’ and there’s a big heart made out of the wood rounds that we’ve collected.”

Beginning Oct. 28, the Arboretum welcomed guests back to the main gardens, its Education Center and Baker Exhibit Center. 

Winter Lights allows guests to walk through gardens once again

While trails remain closed, Winter Lights offers attendees the opportunity to take part in a walking tour of the gardens, though.

This year’s Winter Lights theme is the four seasons.

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“The sub-theme is that this area is strong and resilient, and we’re moving forward,” the executive director said.

According to Fowler, part of the show is typically focused on nature and seeing the gardens in a new light.

“We try to make the show really artful,” Fowler said. “There are some traditional elements, but a lot of times we’re trying to do new things and just bring different kinds of colors that you wouldn’t typically see in a holiday show.”

Families impacted, displaced by Helene are honored

Additionally, Winter Lights has rolled out a program to honor local families impacted or displaced by Helene, Share the Wonder.

“For folks who are out of town, or for people who are here and maybe want to pay it forward, you can buy tickets and we’re working with local nonprofits to get those to families that were impacted by Helene,” Fowler said.

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“So, you can buy a ticket for some family that wouldn’t normally be able to come, or who has been displaced. For staff to figure out all the logistics out and the IT behind it, and come up with a great name, it’s just really fantastic.”

As Saturday night went on, volunteer and “fire rover” Jim Sparks sat by one fire pit watching the crowd.

“I’m amazed that this looks as good as it does, given how bad things are and have been,” said Sparks, who has volunteered at the event with his wife the last three years.

Their reason for coming back and volunteering?

“Because we’re grandparents, and our grandkids are in Boston,” he said. Winter Lights at the Arboretum — and church — he said, are the places filled with families that remind them of their own.

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Bridget Fogarty is a journalist with the USA TODAY Network reporting for the Asheville Citizen Times in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene.



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