North Carolina wasn’t able to take advantage of a record-setting Super Bowl. That won’t be the case for March Madness.
When eight online sports betting apps launch across the Tar Heel State at noon on Monday, new customers will be hit with a flood of options.
Basketball is huge in North Carolina. With four ACC schools rich in hoops tradition along what is known as “Tobacco Road,” it’s the first sport that’s going to stick out for enthusiasts.
But until football starts again, plenty of other markets in a deep wagering catalog with little sports restrictions will catch the attention of Tar Heel State bettors.
“With the NCAA Tournament right around the corner and the NASCAR season in full throttle, we are thrilled to be launching our top-rated sportsbook app in North Carolina,” Matt Kalish, president of DraftKings North America, said last week. “The Tar Heel State is home to a passionate fanbase and some of the most iconic college basketball programs of all time, making this an exciting time to introduce legalized online sports betting.”
Here’s an early guide to N.C. sports betting options at launch:
In the nick of time
Gov. Roy Cooper made it clear earlier this year that the plan was for the North Carolina Lottery Commission to have sports betting going in time for March Madness.
Regulators accomplished that mission with one day to spare. The ACC men’s basketball tournament kicks off on Tuesday from Washington, D.C.
NC State will be the first Tobacco Road team that bettors in North Carolina can legally wager on when the Wolfpack takes on Louisville at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Wake Forest plays Wednesday with North Carolina and Duke set to take the court on Thursday.
Who wins in D.C.?
Spreads, totals, player props, and more will be available for individual games, but as far as future bets go, the North Carolina Tar Heels are favored by DraftKings to win the ACC tournament at +150. Rival Duke, which lost to UNC on Saturday, is listed second at +160.
There’s a pretty big drop off after that. Clemson is third at +850 despite holding the sixth seed and needing to win four games in four days. Wake Forest is +900 followed by Pittsburgh (+1200), Virginia (+1900), Virginia Tech (+3000), and Syracuse (+6500).
NC State is a deep longshot at +10000.
Cut down the nets
UNC has the best odds of teams in the state to win the 2024 NCAA National Championship at +1800 and is the sixth team listed at BetMGM. At +2500, Duke is six spots down and the ACC team with the next highest odds.
Reigning champion UConn is the overall favorite at +500 followed by Houston at +650 and Purdue at +750.
North Carolina residents and visitors for the NCAA tournament’s first- and second-round host site at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte will have the opportunity to bet on the teams that will be playing on that very court on March 21-23.
First in line
The Charlotte Hornets will be the first team located in North Carolina to play a game that bettors can wager on when they visit the Detroit Pistons on Monday at 7:10 p.m. as a 4-point underdog at bet365.
Five other NBA games are lined up for Monday, including the Cleveland Cavaliers hosting the Phoenix Suns as a 6-point underdog.
NBA bettors will get about a month of regular-season action to play on or fade the Hornets, who have lost six of their last seven games.
At bet365, the Hornets are in the bottom five teams in future odds to win the NBA title at +100000. The Boston Celtics are the favorite at +225 to win it all in 2024.
Start your engines
The Tar Heel State and NASCAR are as linked as any state and sports body in the U.S. The stock car sanctioning and operating company has deep roots in North Carolina. Many of the NASCAR teams are located in the state. The NASCAR Hall of Fame is located in Charlotte and will host football commentator and former Carolina Panther Greg Olsen, who will make the first bet Monday.
Bettors will be excited to fire up a mobile app and get in on the racing at the Food City 500 from Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday. Odds to win the race, driver-versus-driver matchups, and future markets on NASCAR Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series will likely be offered throughout the state’s online operators.
“We’re proud to be working alongside NASCAR as our market access partner and look forward to enhancing the fan experience across North Carolina with a fun, safe, and seamless sports betting product,” Kalish said.
Drop the puck
The NHL has made quite the splash in Raleigh, home of the Carolina Hurricanes, and bettors can wager on many of the same options as other pro sports.
The Hurricanes host the New York Rangers on Tuesday in what will be the first game played inside the state since the launch of sports betting in North Carolina, but Raleigh residents can check out a launch party on Monday at Backyard Bistro.
“March 11th is a massive day for sports fans and the sports industry in North Carolina,” Hurricanes president and general manager Don Waddell said. “The Hurricanes and Fanatics look forward to throwing this party to celebrate with our fans as we move forward into this exciting new chapter.”
The Hurricanes have the fourth-best odds at +800 to win the Stanley Cup this season at FanDuel.
Don’t forget pigskin
As big as basketball is, football, both professional and collegiate, is going to be a huge revenue generator in the Tar Heel State.
Charlotte is home of the Carolina Panthers, and with so many transplants from around the U.S. living in North Carolina, there will be a ton of NFL wagering this fall.
For now, though, fans will have to settle for the NFL draft, which commences in April. Unfortunately, the Panthers don’t have a first-round draft pick, but bettors can wager on who the No. 1 pick selection will be.
FanDuel has quarterback Caleb Williams the favorite at -2000 with Drake Maye, who played QB at UNC, listed second at +1100. Fans can bet on Maye going No. 2 overall at -140.
Conference, division, and individual award winners for the 2024 NFL season are up at FanDuel. As are Super Bowl odds with the San Francisco 49ers listed as the favorite at +500. The Panthers, coming off a 2-15 season, are dead last at +25000.
There are also future odds for college football and even a smattering of early lines offered more than five months from kickoff.
Diamond action
There is no MLB team in the state … at least not yet. While the pro baseball league flirts with the idea of putting in an expansion team in Charlotte, North Carolina is still considered “Braves Country.”
Atlanta is listed second at +600 to win the World Series at Caesars Sportsbook.
Spring training games are also ongoing, but there are also college baseball markets, including lines for games and future wagering options.
Wake Forest is the favorite to win the College World Series at +750, according to FanDuel.
