North Carolina
North Carolina Fields Seven Sportsbook Applications
Posted on: January 1, 2024, 12:01h.
Last updated on: January 1, 2024, 12:14h.
The North Carolina State Lottery Commission last week unveiled the list of companies that applied to receive retail and online sports betting privileges ahead of the agency’s “recommended submission” deadline of Dec. 27.
Sports betting market leaders DraftKings and FanDuel highlight the group of seven that additionally includes BetMGM, ESPN Bet, Fanatics, bet365, and Underdog Sports. State lawmakers and Gov. Roy Cooper (D) legalized commercial sports gambling last June.
The North Carolina State Lottery Commission, which is tasked with licensing and regulating the state’s newly expanded gaming industry, says it’ll need up to 90 days to review the online sports betting applications and issue licenses.
The law requires that such betting commence by June 15, 2024. But Cooper wants sportsbooks to begin taking bets in time for March Madness — the 2024 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament.
North Carolina is home to arguably the biggest rivalry in college basketball, with the North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils blood enemies. The programs are respectively ranked No. 9 and No. 16 in the AP Top 25 poll. The blueblood programs are near perennial bracket entries.
Partnerships Align
North Carolina’s sports betting law requires sportsbook companies to partner with a professional sports team, venue, or one of two qualifying sports organizations — the PGA Tour and NASCAR.
FanDuel is partnered with the PGA Tour. Fanatics’ application is in conjunction with the NHL Carolina Hurricanes, while ESPN Bet is aligned with Quail Hollow Club, an annual stop on the PGA Tour that hosts the Wells Fargo Championship. Bet365 is bidding with the NBA Charlotte Hornets.
The three remaining applicants did not publicly disclose their professional sports partners. Potential partners include the NFL Carolina Panthers, National Women’s Soccer League’s North Carolina Courage, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and NASCAR.
If approved, sportsbook firms will be allowed to operate in-person and online sports betting. Their retail facilities will only be permitted at the host stadium or venue of their partnered organization.
Each sportsbook license costs a one-time $1 million fee. Gross revenue will be subject to an 18% tax. The state will appropriate much of the tax benefit to support collegiate athletics at state universities. Thirteen schools will receive up to $300,000 annually from the gaming expansion:
- Appalachian State University
- East Carolina University
- Elizabeth City State University
- Fayetteville State University
- North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University
- North Carolina Central University
- University of North Carolina at Asheville
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- University of North Carolina at Pembroke
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington
- Western Carolina University
- Winston-Salem State University
Along with the seven commercial sportsbook bids, Caesars Sportsbook is expected to apply as a licensed service provider to operate an online book on behalf of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Caesars operates the tribe’s two casinos in North Carolina — Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River.
For the tribe to gain online sports betting rights, Cooper must agree to amend the state’s Class III gaming compact to allow such gambling. The state is home to a third tribal casino in Kings Mountain called Catawba Two Kings Casino. The temporary casino is owned by the Catawba Indian Nation.
Can Underdogs Compete?
DraftKings and FanDuel dominate the U.S. sports betting landscape, with estimates suggesting they control as much as 75% of the industry. Their control led to a market consolidation last year, as many upstarts folded, including Fox Bet, WynnBet, and MaximBet.
Underdog is a new daily fantasy sports and sportsbook startup from Jeremy Levine, who cofounded the StarStreet and DRAFT fantasy apps that were acquired, respectively, by DraftKings and Paddy Power Betfair. Underdog recently gained its first online sports betting license via Ohio.
Underdog and the others bidding in North Carolina believe 2024 could be the year when smaller sportsbooks begin cutting into DraftKings and FanDuel’s market share. ESPN Bet is Penn Entertainment’s $1.5 billion wager on the industry after agreeing to pay ESPN that amount to leverage the sports media brand into its sports betting business.
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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