There are three North Carolina sportsbooks at casinos. The first two opened in 2021. One is at Harrah’s Cherokee. The other is at Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River near Murphy. A third sportsbook in NC opened at Catawba Two Kings southwest of Charlotte in 2022.
All North Carolina sportsbooks accept bets on all major sports, including basketball, baseball, football, and hockey. There is also action available on auto racing, boxing, golf, mixed martial arts, soccer, tennis, and more.
If you register for an account through a link on BetbyState, we may receive compensation. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Harrah’s Cherokee Sportsbook
Harrah’s Cherokee is by far the largest North Carolina sportsbook. It is a Caesars Sportsbook that seats over 100 people. Its walls are lined with 90 feet of HD and 4K televisions. Three private fan caves require a minimum spend to reserve. The bigger the event, the more it costs. For example, for Super Bowl 58, the main fan cave required $4000 per person. The cheapest reservation was $200 for a bar top seat. Tables were in the $500 range per person.
March Madness pricing is similar. Smaller events start at $500 for the fan cave and $50 for other seating. Most seating is free when there is no major event.
Bettors receive Caesars Rewards Credits and Tier Points through its players club. Straight bets require $10 to earn a point. It is $5 for parlays and teasers.
Food delivery is available in the sportsbook through Caesars Eats. The Harrah’s Cherokee sportsbook ticket windows open at 10am during the week and 9am on weekends and close at midnight during the week and 1am on weekends. Kiosks are available 24 hours a day.
Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River
Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River is a smaller version of the main casino an hour east of it. The sportsbook is no different. It is also a Caesars Sportsbook. There is a 32-foot TV wall. It seats about 30 people but expands during major events. There is a sports bar with a lounge steps away from the betting counter.
Ticket windows open at 10am during the week and 9am on Saturdays and Sundays. It closes at midnight Sunday through Thursday and 1am on weekend nights. Kiosks accept wagers 24 hours a day.
Catawba Two Kings
Catawba Two Kings is a small NC casino southwest of Charlotte. It does not have a ticket counter like the two Harrah’s casinos in NC. Catawba Two Kings only has kiosks that are operated by IGT. There is a small viewing area on the slot floor that seats about 20 people. Kiosks accept wagers 24 hours a day.
Mobile sportsbooks open in NC in March 2024
While there are only three places to legally bet on sports in North Carolina today, that all changes on March 11, 2024. That is the date NC online sportsbooks launch. There will be eight available on that date:
- Bet365
- BetMGM
- Caesars Sportsbook
- DraftKings
- ESPN Bet
- Fanatics
- FanDuel
- Underdog Sports
Each of these companies will offer new player bonuses. Some will be loss rebates. Others involve deposit match bonuses. There will also be promotions like bet $5, get $200 in bonus bets.
North Carolina sports bettors can claim a bonus from each of the eight sportsbooks if they do not already have an account with one from another state. For example, if you crossed the state line into Tennessee or Virginia in the past to make a legal mobile sports bet at BetMGM, you will be unable to claim a new player bonus there because you already have an account.
You don’t have to wait until March 11, 2024, to open an account at a new NC online sportsbook. Accounts may be created starting on March 1, 2024.
Types of North Carolina online sportsbook bonuses
There are three types of North Carolina online sportsbook bonuses. This includes loss rebates and bonus bets.
Loss rebate
A loss rebate is a replacement for a losing bet. If your first bet loses, a bonus bet is awarded to the player. It may be placed as a second chance to win back the loss. If the loss rebate also loses, the player does not recover any money. When it wins, it may be withdrawn or bet on other events. If the first bet wins, there is no loss rebate given to the player.
Bet small, get a big bonus bet
The bet $5, get $200 is a way to receive a large set of bonus bets for making a small one. In some cases, the first bet must win to receive the extra ones. In this scenario, players should wager on moneyline favorites to increase their chances of getting the $200. If there is no requirement to win the first bet, then the type does not matter.
Match deposit bonus
A match deposit bonus is when the sportsbook gives the player an amount equal to the deposit in the form of a bonus. An example of this is 100% up to $500. In this scenario, the player deposits any amount up to $500 and gets that amount in bonus bets. A $500 deposit gives the player the ability to make $1000 in bets immediately.
There is a wagering requirement related to match deposits. At some sportsbooks, it is only an amount equal to the promotion. It may be as much as 25 times the bonus. This is why it is so important to read the terms and conditions.
Another important rule to understand with all promotions mentioned in this article is the number of days the player has before the offer expires. It may be as little as a week or two for the loss rebate and get $200 types of deals. On match deposits, it depends on the wagering requirement. If the wagering requirement is only one time, the offer likely expires in a week or two. If it has a large wagering requirement, the rules likely give players months to meet it.
Play responsibly
Online betting is new to North Carolina. It is easy to get caught up in the excitement. Responsible gambling is imperative. Don’t bet more than you can afford. If you can’t take advantage of the full offer because your bankroll is too small, save it for later or deposit less for a smaller bonus. Play within your means and you will have fun, regardless of the outcome.
