North Carolina sets out stall for forthcoming sports betting regulated market
Tar Heel State follows up on recent legalization advancing accelerated plans for rollout
Officials from the North Carolina State Lottery Commission (NCSLC) have commenced the process of creating the framework and infrastructure for regulated sports betting in the Tar Heel State.
Sports betting officially became legal in North Carolina last week, and the state has wasted no time as it aims to meet the legislative deadline of a 2024 launch.
Under the North Carolina Sports Wagering Act, the NCSLC is given a window spanning January 8 to June 14, 2024 to commence operations, however officials are keen to go ahead as early as possible.
The NCSLC has launched a designated webpage for public updates on the sports betting licensing process and while no license applications are currently available for view, it is understood the commission is working on these documents.
“The commission is working to meet those obligations [set out in the Wagering Act] so that sports betting and horseracing wagering can begin as soon as practicable and so that these activities will be conducted responsibly,” the NCSLC website states.
Late last week, NCSLC chair Ripley Rand moved quickly to issue a statement outlining the commissions’ desire to do a thorough job with licensing and regulation.
“Many people want to know when North Carolina will begin permitting legal sports betting,” Rand said.
“The commission and staff take these responsibilities seriously and are committed to ensuring the job is done in a complete, professional, transparent, and timely manner. We will keep the public up to date about when these programs will launch,” he added.
Central to this commitment is responsible gambling (RG), with the state keen to avoid any potential problem gambling spike following the market launch, and with this in mind, several initiatives have been confirmed on the NCSLC website as being in the works.
These include a voluntary self-exclusion program, age verification requirements, as well as requirements that licensed operators provide information about RG-related training offered to employees.
In addition, the regulatory entity has said it will require all gambling ads to include resources and links to combat gambling addiction, as well as requesting that all advertising and marketing does not target individuals under the age of 21.
In the same statement confirming the regulatory rollout, the NCSLC confirmed the start of a search for “an experienced senior leader” to oversee the new regulatory responsibilities, with national candidates welcomed.
It is also understood to be hiring additional staff to cope with the potential influx of license applications and the increased regulatory burden arising from online sports betting.
“No timetable outlining expected dates for application submissions and the granting of licenses is available at this time,” the press release noted.
“No commission meetings regarding sports betting are scheduled at this time,” the release concluded.