BetMGM secures North Carolina market access with Charlotte Motor Speedway
Operator readying to go live in Tar Heel State as DraftKings pens partnership with NASCAR to secure its place in marketac
BetMGM has secured market access in North Carolina after securing a partnership with Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The deal is subject to regulatory approval, with North Carolina sports betting expected to go live in time for March Madness.
Under the state’s law, sports betting must go live by mid-June, with officials already having confirmed it will not be live by the Super Bowl in February.
BetMGM was one of the seven operators named by the North Carolina State Lottery Commission last week that had applied for a sports betting license.
Under North Carolina law, operators looking to offer services in the Tar Heel State are required to partner with either a North Carolinian sports team, a motorsports arena operator or a golf tournament host.
Adam Greenblatt, BetMGM CEO, said: “We have been eagerly awaiting legal, safe, regulated online sports betting in North Carolina, a state with more than 10 million people and one of the most vibrant sports environments in the country.
“BetMGM’s partnership with Charlotte Motor Speedway meets a great demand for entertainment from North Carolinians. Together, we will deliver a premier and responsible gaming product that benefits many state agencies.”
Greg Walter, Charlotte Motor Speedway EVP and general manager, added: “BetMGM has established itself as a signature source for sports betting with partnerships in every major league sport and with venues across the country.
“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 favorite events while expanding North Carolina’s tax base, supporting colleges, and facilitating recruitment of major events for the future.”
Elsewhere, DraftKings has also secured market access in North Carolina after penning a deal with NASCAR which will also see the operator become the association’s exclusive daily fantasy sports partner in the US and Canada.
The Boston-based operator will also become and authorized gaming operator of NASCAR and is set to gain “additional sponsorship benefits” as a result.
Matt Kalish, DraftKings North America president, said: “DraftKings and NASCAR have collaborated closely with each other over the years, sharing a like-minded commitment to enhancing the fan experience.
“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.”