North Carolina
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.
“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.”
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.
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.
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.
Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
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HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Fire crews are responding to a brush fire near Howard Gap Road in Hendersonville on Friday evening.
The fire is across the street from the Ebenezer Baptist Church and near the Highlands Square Shopping Center.
Henderson County Fire Marshal Glen Gillette said crews are fighting “blowdown from Helene.”
NEW WILDFIRES IGNITE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA FOREST AMID WORSENING DROUGHT
Around 11 p.m., the fire appears larger than it did an hour ago because crews are backburning, which refers to using fire to help control the wildfire.
Dana Fire Department Chief Jimmy Womack said that what was a 3-acre fire an hour ago will be an 8-acre fire due to back burning. He said the fire is 80% contained.
Womack said the cause of the fire is unknown, but one of the conditions contributing to the blaze is the Helene blowdown.
“There’s a lot of blowdown in these woods behind us. That’s what creates most of the problem,” said Womack.
Womack said there has been no property damage and no injuries have been reported for this fire in the woods that 24 personnel are fighting. They got the call to arrive at 6:05 p.m.
LOCAL NEWS
Dana Fire and Rescue and Henderson County Fire Department are supporting the U.S. Forest Service with this fire.
Glen said no structures are threatened at this time and Howard Gap Road is closed.
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This story will be updated as new information is discovered.
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