Online gambling in North Carolina centres on legal sports betting, pari-mutuel horse racing and daily fantasy, online casino and poker aren’t legal here. This guide covers what’s legal, who’s licensed by the North Carolina State Lottery, and how to get started.
North Carolina has become one of the fastest-growing sports betting markets in the country. Online wagering launched in March 2024, and in its first full calendar year (2025) bettors staked more than $7 billion, generating over $132 million in state tax. Backed by a deep field of operators and a passionate college-sports culture, the Tar Heel State went from new entrant to major market in barely a year. This guide covers what’s legal, how it works and how to get started.
In this article 15 sections
- Is online gambling legal in North Carolina?
- What you can play in North Carolina
- Online gambling in North Carolina by the numbers
- How North Carolina’s market works
- The best North Carolina sportsbooks
- Popular bets and North Carolina sports
- North Carolina’s rapid rise
- Bet types explained
- How to start betting in North Carolina
- Will North Carolina legalize online casino?
- Responsible gambling in North Carolina
- North Carolina sports betting FAQ
- Legal options in North Carolina
- Online Casinos in North Carolina
- Horse Betting in North Carolina
Is online gambling legal in North Carolina?
Yes. North Carolina lawmakers legalized online sports betting in 2023, and it went live on 11 March 2024, regulated by the North Carolina State Lottery Commission (retail betting at tribal casinos had existed since 2021). You must be 21 or older and physically located in North Carolina to bet, confirmed by geolocation. Real-money online casino (iGaming) is not legal in the state.
What you can play in North Carolina
- North Carolina sportsbooks: mobile betting on every major sport from a competitive field of operators.
- Daily fantasy sports: legal in North Carolina through DraftKings, FanDuel, PrizePicks, Underdog and Sleeper.
- Horse racing: pari-mutuel wagering for North Carolina bettors via licensed ADW apps.
- Online casino: not yet legal in North Carolina, see the outlook below.
Online gambling in North Carolina by the numbers
| Metric | Latest figure |
|---|---|
| Launched | 11 March 2024 (retail at tribal casinos since 2021) |
| Tax rate | 18% of gross wagering revenue |
| 2025 handle | Over $7 billion (first full calendar year) |
| 2025 tax to the state | More than $132 million |
| 2024 revenue | $583.6 million GGR |
| Operators | Around 7, 8 mobile sportsbooks |
| Online casino | Not legal |
| Minimum age | 21+ |
How North Carolina’s market works
North Carolina taxes operators at 18% of gross wagering revenue, on the higher end nationally (the House proposed 14% before the Senate raised it). The money is spread across the General Fund, youth and collegiate sports, a Major Events Fund that has already helped land events like the 2026 MLS All-Star Game, and athletics departments across the UNC System (notably excluding NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill). A 2025 budget proposal floated doubling the tax to 36%, with more going to UNC and NC State athletics, but it did not pass. FanDuel is the official sportsbook of the Carolina Panthers, and the state allows betting on college teams, a big deal given North Carolina’s elite programs.
The best North Carolina sportsbooks
North Carolina launched with a strong field including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics, bet365 and Underdog. Of the books we work with and can verify, FanDuel (the Panthers’ partner, with the best app and same-game parlays) and bet365 (strong live betting and a win-or-lose welcome offer) both operate here. Compare the live offers on this page before you sign up.
See terms and codes on our promo codes page or the full North Carolina sportsbook guide.
Popular bets and North Carolina sports
Tar Heel bettors play the standard markets, moneylines, point spreads, totals and parlays/same-game parlays. The NFL’s Panthers, the NBA’s Hornets and the NHL’s Hurricanes draw plenty of action, but college basketball is the heartbeat of the state: Duke, North Carolina, NC State and Wake Forest power enormous handle, especially around March Madness, and unlike some states North Carolina lets you bet on those in-state college teams.
North Carolina’s rapid rise
Few states have ramped up as quickly. Governor Roy Cooper placed the ceremonial first bet, on the Carolina Hurricanes to win the Stanley Cup, when the market opened on 11 March 2024, and within months North Carolina was handling hundreds of millions of dollars a month. It set an all-time record of $811.4 million in handle in October 2025 with $78.1 million in gross gaming revenue, and bettors have now wagered more than $12 billion in total since launch. Monthly handle topped $650 million for several straight months at the end of 2025.
That growth has been a windfall for the state. North Carolina sports betting tax has channelled tens of millions into the General Fund, a Major Events Fund (which helped land the 2026 MLS All-Star Game in Charlotte) and athletics departments across the UNC System, reportedly more than $20 million to public universities in the first year alone. The college tie-in is fitting, because college basketball is the engine of betting interest here: the Duke, North Carolina rivalry and deep March Madness runs from Tar Heel schools drive some of the most concentrated college handle in the country.
Bet types explained
The betting menu in North Carolina comes down to essentials. Start with the North Carolina moneyline, a clean pick of who wins, the Panthers to take it. Add the point spread, which handicaps the favorite, and the total, a bet on combined scoring rather than the North Carolina winner. For bigger swings, North Carolina bettors use parlays (several legs, all must win), same-game parlays from a single the Panthers matchup, futures on the season, and live in-play markets that track the Panthers in real time.
How to start betting in North Carolina
Getting started in North Carolina takes minutes: confirm you are 21+ and physically in North Carolina, choose a licensed North Carolina app, and register with real details so identity checks clear. Claim the North Carolina welcome offer, deposit, set your limits before your first North Carolina wager, and withdraw once any North Carolina rollover terms are met.
Will North Carolina legalize online casino?
Not yet. With sports betting off to a strong start, iGaming is likely to enter the conversation, but no online-casino bill has advanced. For now, only sports betting, DFS and horse racing are legal online in the state.
For the full picture, see our North Carolina online casino guide, which tracks whether and when real-money iGaming might reach North Carolina.
Responsible gambling in North Carolina
Betting in North Carolina should stay entertainment, not a way to chase money or claw back losses. Every licensed North Carolina operator hands you deposit, wager and time limits plus cool-off and self-exclusion tools, and the trick is to set them when you open the North Carolina account rather than after a rough night. If it stops being fun, that is your cue to step away, and confidential help in North Carolina is a free call or text to 1-800-GAMBLER, around the clock.
North Carolina sports betting FAQ
1. Is online sports betting legal in North Carolina?
Yes. Online sports betting launched on 11 March 2024, regulated by the North Carolina State Lottery Commission. You must be 21+ and physically in North Carolina to bet.
2. Is online casino legal in North Carolina?
No. Real-money online casino games are not legal in North Carolina, only sports betting, DFS and horse racing.
3. Can I bet on Duke, UNC and NC State?
Yes. Unlike some states, North Carolina allows betting on in-state college teams, which is a big part of why college basketball drives so much of its handle.
4. What is the sports betting tax rate in North Carolina?
18% of gross wagering revenue, funding the General Fund, youth and collegiate sports, a Major Events Fund and UNC-System athletics. A 2025 proposal to double it to 36% did not pass.
5. Which sportsbook is best in North Carolina?
Of our partners, FanDuel (the Panthers’ sportsbook) and bet365 both operate in North Carolina. The state also licenses DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics and Underdog.
6. Do I have to live in North Carolina to bet?
No, you just need to be physically inside North Carolina when you place a bet, confirmed by geolocation.
7. Are prediction markets like Kalshi legal in North Carolina?
Yes, Kalshi-style platforms operate in North Carolina under federal CFTC oversight, not North Carolina gambling law, which is how they sidestep state licensing. Because their sports markets resemble wagering, North Carolina’s status for them is unsettled, with 2026 court rulings favoring Kalshi even as the appeals grind on. In North Carolina, treat them as adjacent to a licensed sportsbook, not a swap for one.
8. Are sweepstakes casinos legal in North Carolina?
Sweepstakes casinos like Chumba, LuckyLand and Stake.us reach North Carolina adults through a virtual-currency model designed to sit outside North Carolina gambling licensing. That leaves North Carolina players in a grey area with weaker safeguards than a regulated site, one regulators keep testing, so use them cautiously in North Carolina.
9. Is daily fantasy sports (DFS) legal in North Carolina?
Yes, daily fantasy sports operate in North Carolina as a contest-based activity separate from North Carolina sportsbook wagering. DraftKings and FanDuel lead the North Carolina field, joined by pick’em apps PrizePicks, Underdog and Sleeper.
10. Can I bet on horse racing online in North Carolina?
Yes, North Carolina bettors can wager on horse racing via regulated ADW platforms like TVG (FanDuel Racing), TwinSpires and AmWager, a separate product from North Carolina sports betting.
11. Where can I get help for a gambling problem in North Carolina?
Help in North Carolina is free, confidential and available 24/7, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER, or use the deposit limits, cool-off periods and self-exclusion tools in every licensed North Carolina app. Nobody in North Carolina has to be in crisis to reach out.
21+. Must be physically located in North Carolina. Gambling problem in North Carolina? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Legal options in North Carolina
- North Carolina sports betting
Online Casinos in North Carolina
North Carolina Online Casino
At the moment, there is no law in place to allow an online casino to operate in the Old North State. This means that there is no way of legally playing in a casino here. It isn’t clear whether this state will eventually follow other parts of the US in passing online betting regulations. If this happens, it is likely to involve a few, carefully selected operators getting a license to open their online casino. As we have seen in other states, this means that the biggest brands with excellent customer service and a fully-professional approach are given the go-ahead and will provide casino games in North Carolina.
Online Casino Sites in North Carolina
While you need to wait to see what sites can operate here, we can get an idea of what to expect from a North Carolina online casino by looking at the brand that operates in other states. They are probably going to be the brands that seek a license here. The biggest and most trustworthy names in the business should look to open their online casino in North Carolina once they can. Based on the most recent regulatory developments and the betting market in the nearby states (VA, WV etc.) several large players are expected to line up with FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars Casino and DraftKings being the obvious bets as the first movers.
North Carolina Online Casino Sites/Apps Expected in 2025:
- FanFuel Casino
- BetMGM Casino
- betRivers
- bet365 Casino NC
- Caesars Casino
- DraftKings Casino
North Carolina Sweepstakes Online Casinos 2025
North Carolina residents can enjoy casino-style games from home through social casinos. These platforms provide the same gaming experience as traditional casinos but without the need to pay to play or the ability to win real money directly. Players can use gold coins for free entertainment or switch to sweepstakes mode with sweeps coins to compete for prizes, including gift cards and real cash. Here’s a list of the top sweepstakes casinos available in North Carolina:
- Hello Millions Casino
- BetRivers.net
- Funrize Casino
- Pulz Casino
- WOW Vegas Casino
- Stake.us Casino
- NoLimit Coins Casino
- RealPrize.com Casino
- Pulsz Casino
- New Legendz Casino
- LuckyLand Slots
- Fortune Coins Casino
- Gambino Slots
- Funzpoints Casino
- McLuck Casino
: With over 700 casino-style games, Hello Millions Casino offers a vibrant gaming experience with a comic book-themed site. Players can enjoy slots and a live dealer studio with both gold coins and sweeps coins play. Notably, there’s no limit on the maximum prize redemption when playing in sweepstakes mode.
BetRivers.net: A sister site to the BetRivers sportsbook and casino, BetRivers.net provides a social casino experience featuring over 2,000 games, including slots, table games, and a live dealer section. Additionally, there’s a free-to-play sportsbook, with up to $1,000 in virtual credits provided daily to keep players entertained.
Funrize Casino: Funrize Casino offers over 100 games, allowing players to choose between a standard for-fun tournament mode or promotional mode, where winnings can be exchanged for cash prizes or gift cards. New players are welcomed with a signup bonus of 75,000 coins to get started.
Online Casino Games
No matter when the first online casino opens in the Old North State, it will bring us a wide selection of different games. If you want to play slots, you will have a lot to choose from, with top titles like Jack Hammer 2, Mega Moolah, and Pirate’s Bounty. Table games should be covered with a big range of poker, baccarat, roulette, and more. Some casinos have live dealer table games for you to enjoy too.
Best Casino Apps
Once the first North Caroline online casino is opened, you will be able to play on a mobile basis too. This is because many of these sites have mobile apps that can be added to just about any kind of device. This lets you access casino games in North Carolina directly from your mobile screen, using the same password as on the desktop site and accessing the same funds.
NC Land-based Casinos
If you plan to place some wagers in a land casino, there are a couple of options, both of them operated by the Cherokee Nation.
- Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, Cherokee. This resort has views of the Great Smoky Mountains and over a hundred table games for you to choose from.
- Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River, Murphy. The second Harrah’s casino isn’t quite as luxurious, but it has a selection of restaurants and coffee shops.
Bonuses in North Carolina
The North Carolina online casinos should provide some attractive bonuses to help encourage new members to sign up with them. This is a standard approach in the industry and it can be extremely useful in helping you to get started when playing casino games in North Carolina. These casino bonuses come in different forms. Free spins are popular, as they let you try a new game with no risk. On the other hand, a welcome bonus will boost your first deposit. A no deposit bonus will give you a good start before you use your own funds.
FAQ
When will online casinos become available in NC?
It isn’t clear at the time of writing whether the laws needed for North Caroline online casinos to be opened will be passed at some point in the future.
Is sports betting available in NC?
Sports betting sites are unable to operate in this state, with new laws needed for them too.
Are social casinos available in NC?
North Carolina residents can use these casinos since real money stakes aren’t allowed. Players only join to play for fun, which is fine in this state.
What is the Legal Gambling Age in NC?
21 is the minimum age for gambling in casinos in the Tar Heel State. A lower limit of 18 is applied in the likes of lotteries and bingo games. The North Carolina online casino regulation could state either of these ages in the future, or something different.
Tax of gambling winnings in NC?
You will need to declare any big wins to the IRS when playing in an online casino in North Carolina. Expect to pay a flat 24% on wins over $5,000, although future legislation may change this.
Horse Betting in North Carolina
Horse betting in North Carolina is illegal both online and offline right now, so you can’t do it. Sadly, North Carolina online horse betting goes against the current laws in this state. That means it’s illegal to place wagers over the internet, but also offline. There are no on-track or off-track betting facilities (OTBs) for North Carolina horse racing at venues in the Tar Heel State. This also means no mobile betting apps or offers and bonuses. Proposals to tax your profits made from future legalized wagering in North Carolina on horses have been put forward, though.
Horse Betting Sites in North Carolina 2023
There are no North Carolina online horse betting sites licensed by the state. Without proper regulation of the gambling industry, you cannot get bets on. As a result of that, popular horse racing websites in other states don’t allow account wagering from North Carolina residents. If things change and licenses to operate are granted to sites, then you might be able to bet on your favorite horses running one day in the future.
North Carolina Best Horse Betting Apps
If you’re looking for a North Carolina horse racing app, then sadly there isn’t one that can offer you any betting. All of the leading mobile gambling operators apart from Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) platforms don’t have a presence here. Only free-to-play games are allowed under the current state laws, so don’t expect to find parimutuel wagering in North Carolina available to you through these apps. Perhaps things will change one day.
Top Three Bonus Offers in North Carolina
With North Carolina online horse betting illegal, you aren’t able to take advantage of offers and bonuses available on websites licensed in other states. This is a real shame. North Carolina residents are missing out on some great deals but, if state laws change, you may get them in the future.
Horse Racing Tracks in North Carolina
There are a couple of notable tracks where North Carolina horse racing action takes places that you can visit. What you can’t do is bet on the events that happen there, however, as this is against state laws. These are the two racetracks:
- The Queen’s Cup Steeplechase Races at Mineral Springs, a 45-minute drive and 40km south of Charlotte.
- Pinehurst Harness Track at Pinehurst, a two-hour drive and 150km east of Charlotte.
Local and Major Horse Betting Events in North Carolina
There is one important local race you can attend, but horse betting in North Carolina is currently illegal both online and offline. The Queen’s Cup Steeplechase, run at Mineral Springs, is part of a springtime meet, which is usually held towards the end of April. Like most American steeplechases, the race actually takes place over fixed hurdles. The Queen’s Cup has a distance of just less than two-and-a-half miles. Other races on the card include the King George III Hurdle over an extended two miles. You can’t bet on major horse betting events held in other states in North Carolina either.
Types of Horse Racing Bets in North Carolina
Unlike other US states, there is no parimutuel wagering in North Carolina on horses allowed. This is because there are no regulations for the industry in place right now. That means fixed-odds horse betting in North Carolina isn’t available either. The various types of wager you can place through either can’t be offered to you. The day may come when North Carolina online horse betting gets legalized, and then various bets can be placed.
FAQ
Is Online Horse Betting Legal in North Carolina?
No, North Carolina online horse betting isn’t legal right now. This is because there are no regulations in the state governing sports gambling.
Can You Gamble Online in North Carolina?
Again, no. At this time, any form of online sports or horse betting in North Carolina is illegal. The Tar Heel State needs to legalize internet betting.
Can You Bet on Horses in North Carolina?
No, any form of wagering in North Carolina on horses isn’t allowed due to state laws. Whether this changes in the future or not remains to be seen.
Do I have to pay tax on betting winnings in North Carolina?
You currently don’t have to pay taxes on horse betting in North Carolina, because gambling on this and other sports is illegal. However, proposals that suggest an 8% rate have been put forward. Remember, federal income tax requires you to declare all winnings from any form of wagering.