North Carolina Online Gambling
The North Carolina gambling market is one of the most complicated in the entire United States. Don’t worry, though, we’re here to help you make sense of it all. This guide will tell you all about online gambling in the Tar Heel State. We’ll let you know about the legal status of North Carolina online gambling, sports betting, and poker, alongside explaining where you can gamble in-person at the best NC land-based casinos.
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Best North Carolina Gambling Sites
While online casinos are not yet legal in North Carolina, there are plenty of other North Carolina gambling sites for you to enjoy in the Tar Heel State. Alongside legal online sportsbooks, which opened their virtual doors in NC in March 2024, North Carolinians can also play at social and sweepstakes casinos.
Is Online Gambling Legal in North Carolina?
Many forms of North Carolina gambling are legal, but the overall picture is a little more complicated. North Carolina sports betting has been legal since 2023 when North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper signed House Bill 347 into law. This bill came into effect on March 11, 2024, allowing up to 12 new North Carolina sports betting sites to open in the state and anyone over the age of 21 to bet at them.
Unlike online sportsbooks in the state, there are no legal North Carolina online casino sites. The North Carolina police code explicitly makes operating an online casino or playing at one illegal in the Tar Heel State.
Subchapter XI, Article 37 § 14‑292 of the North Carolina criminal code reads, “any person or organization that operates any game of chance or any person who plays at or bets on any game of chance at which any money, property or other thing of value is bet, whether the same be in stake or not, shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.”
Class 2 misdemeanors in the state of North Carolina come with a maximum penalty of 60 days in jail and a fine of $1,000.
While North Carolina’s online casino laws are pretty strict, sweepstakes casinos are completely legal in North Carolina because they are not technically real money gambling sites under North Carolina law. Free-to-play social online casinos are legal in North Carolina for the same reason.
Native American land-based casinos are also legal in North Carolina. There are three tribal casinos in the state with more likely on the way. State Senator Phil Berger and Representative Tim Moore unsuccessfully tried to expand the number of tribal casinos in North Carolina from three to six in 2023. They plan on trying again sometime in 2024.
Besides an expansion of tribal casinos, the North Carolina gambling landscape is unlikely to change in the near future. The Tar Heel State has some of the strictest gambling laws in the country. That is not on track to change anytime soon. Unless the North Carolina sports betting industry explodes far beyond expectations, don’t expect to see any major changes soon.
North Carolina Gambling History
As any Tar Heel knows, North Carolina has more history than just about any state in the nation. This is equally true for North Carolina gambling laws. The state’s first gambling law was on the books all the way back in 1749 when the North Carolina General Assembly adopted an English law relating to excessive gambling debts.
We’ve come a long way since 1749, and so have North Carolina gambling laws. Land-based tribal casinos have been legal in the state since the 1990s, and sports betting was legalized in 2024. We are probably way away from North Carolina gambling laws being as open as a state like New Jersey’s are, but the state has come a long way since 1749.
Here are some of the major milestones in North Carolina’s gambling law since 1749.
- 1749 – North Carolina passes a law against “excessive and immoderate” gambling.
- 1945 – Mecklenburg County legalizes bingo, starting a trend around the state.
- 1994 – North Carolina state amends pacts with tribes to allow for in-person casinos.
- 1997 – The Cherokee tribe opens the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, the first land-based casino in North Carolina.
- 2006 – North Carolina Lottery tickets go on sale for the first time since the 1820s.
- 2007 – North Carolina bans video poker games.
- 2018 – The US Supreme Court strikes down the national ban on sports betting, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act.
- 2019 – NC Government approves new retail sportsbooks at tribal casinos.
- 2021 – Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort opens the first legal retail sportsbook in North Carolina.
- 2023 – North Carolina governor Roy Cooper signs bill legalizing sporting betting in North Carolina.
- March 11, 2024 – Online North Carolina sports betting goes live.
Legal Gambling Options in North Carolina
While North Carolina online casino gambling is not yet legal, online sports betting, sweepstakes casinos, and daily fantasy sports are legal. See our table below for an overview of legal gambling in North Carolina.
| Type of Gambling | Legal? | When Legalized? |
| Online Casinos | ❌ | N/A |
| Land-Based Casinos | ✅ | 1994 |
| Online Poker | ❌ | N/A |
| Land-Based Poker | ✅ | 1994 |
| Online Sports Betting | ✅ | 2024 |
| Retail Sports Betting | ✅ | 2019 |
| Daily Fantasy Sports | ✅ | N/A |
| Horse Racing | ✅ | 2023 |
| Lottery | ✅ | 2005 |
| Charitable Gambling | ✅ | 1983 |
Sports Betting
North Carolina sports betting is the newest addition to the North Carolina online gambling scene. As of March 11, 2024, residents of the Tar Heel State can enjoy sports betting at eight retail and online sportsbooks in the state, including BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, Fanatics, and ESPN Bet. Sports bettors must be at least 21 years old to play at North Carolina sports betting sites.
The bill that legalized sports betting, House Bill 347, allows up to 12 sportsbooks to operate in the state. If the initial rollout goes well, we expect the state to allow at least four more online sports betting sites in North Carolina before the end of 2024.
Online Casino
Online casinos are illegal in North Carolina. The Tar Heel State is not alone when it comes to this restriction, but on the whole, North Carolina gambling laws are some of the strictest in the country. There have been no significant movements toward legalizing North Carolina online casinos.
Sweepstakes casinos, where players wager virtual currency that they can buy with real money, are legal in North Carolina. Because users are not wagering actual money, sweepstakes casinos exist outside of North Carolina’s ban on online casinos. However, you can still win real money at sweepstakes casinos.
Poker
Poker is legal in North Carolina at the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in west North Carolina by the city of Cherokee and at the Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino in Murphy. The Catawba Two Kings Casino has long been rumored to be adding a poker room, but they haven’t yet and might not for a while.
The North Carolina state legislature considered a bill in 2023 that would have expanded the number of in-person casinos in the state from three to six. The bill will be up for a vote again in 2024. If it passes, several new poker rooms could be coming to North Carolina in the next few years. However, like online casinos in North Carolina, online poker is illegal in the state.
Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily fantasy sports (DFS) sites are a gray area of North Carolina’s online gambling law. They are not explicitly illegal under North Carolina law, but they aren’t legal either. When the state legislature updated the North Carolina sports betting laws, they didn’t address daily fantasy sports.
They could address it soon, as most states have once they legalized sports betting. Until then, DFS is legal in North Carolina. This includes daily pick’em contests and other fantasy competitions that require a buy-in.
Lottery
North Carolina has one of the youngest lottery programs in the country. The Tar Heel state didn’t introduce its state lottery until 2006. For context, the Virginia state lottery went live in 1987, almost 20 years before North Carolina created its lottery system.
Proceeds from the North Carolina state lottery go directly into the North Carolina education system. However, there have been some controversies over the years about where exactly lottery funding is going. Even with the controversies, the North Carolina state lottery is very popular.
Retail Sportsbooks
Retail sportsbooks have been legal in North Carolina since 2019, when the state renegotiated their deals with the three tribal casinos operating in the state. Two years later, the first retail sportsbook in North Carolina opened at the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and the Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino. The Catawba Two Kings Casino opened its retail sportsbook location in 2022.
Both the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino retail sportsbooks are Caesars Sportsbooks locations. Catawba Two Kings Casino runs its own in-house sportsbook.
The North Carolina government has a very close reputation with the tribal casinos in its state. Allowing for more retail sportsbook locations at non-tribal casinos would go against that relationship, so we don’t see it happening any time soon. With that being said, if the government expands the number of tribal casinos in the state, there will likely be more retail sportsbooks at those new casinos in North Carolina.
Land-Based Casinos
There are three land-based casino locations in North Carolina. Each is a tribal casino. Two are run by the Cherokee nation in west North Carolina. These locations are the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River casinos.
The third land-based casino in North Carolina is the Catawba Two Kings Casino, which is run by the Catawba Indian Nation. The Catawba Two Kings Casino is located in Kings Mountain, NC, just outside Charlotte.
Sweepstakes Casinos
Sweepstakes casinos are legal in North Carolina. Because you do not wager real money at sweepstakes casinos, they are allowed under the North Carolina gambling law. Instead of depositing your hard-earned cash, you can purchase virtual coin bundles or claim coins for free through bonuses and requests. However, you can still win real money prizes when playing sweepstakes casino games.
How are Gambling Sites Regulated in North Carolina?
The North Carolina State Lottery Commission is responsible for creating and administering North Carolina gambling laws. This means the State Lottery regulates the North Carolina sports betting and land-based casino markets. This agency will also regulate online casinos in North Carolina if the state ever legalizes them.
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety is responsible for enforcing criminal laws related to gambling sites in North Carolina. Alcohol Law Enforcement Special Agents are directly responsible for preventing illegal gambling and sports betting in the Tar Heel State.
Responsible Gambling in North Carolina
All three land-based casinos in North Carolina have self-exclusion lists. Anyone can put their own name on these lists if they feel their gambling has gotten out of control and they need to be prevented from gambling again.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services also has a comprehensive problem gambling program available to all citizens of the Tar Heel State who need help. The North Carolina Problem Gambling Program (NCPGP) is run by the North Carolina Lottery. You can call the NCPGP at any time at 877-718-5543.
National programs such as Gamblers Anonymous, the National Council on Problem Gaming, and the National Center for Responsible Gaming are also available to gamblers in North Carolina.
FAQs
Is online gambling legal in North Carolina?
Some forms of online gambling are legal in North Carolina. Online sports betting, sweepstakes casinos, daily fantasy sports, and online horse race betting are legal in North Carolina. Online casinos are not.
Can I bet on sports in North Carolina?
Absolutely! As of March 11, 2024, sports betting in North Carolina is completely legal. If you are 21+ years old, you can bet on sports online in North Carolina or in person at any of the three retail sportsbooks at North Carolina’s three tribal casinos.
Does North Carolina have any online casinos?
Sweepstakes casinos are legal in North Carolina. Traditional online casino sites are not yet permitted in North Carolina.
Is DFS legal in North Carolina?
Yes, daily fantasy sports contests, such as pick’em fantasy contests, are legal in North Carolina. DFS is considered a game of chance under North Carolina law, so they are not a prohibited form of gambling in the state.
Are North Carolina online gambling sites safe?
You bet. There are over half a dozen legal and safe sports betting sites as well as dozens of legit safe sweepstakes casinos you can enjoy safely in North Carolina.
Do I have to pay taxes on gambling winnings in North Carolina?
Gambling winnings in North Carolina are taxed as regular income. You must report gambling winnings on your taxes. If you get a big win of over $600, the online casino, gambling site, or sportsbook will also report that income to the government.
