North Carolina Online Sportsbooks Will Not Launch In Time For The Super Bowl

The North Carolina Lottery Commission met on Wednesday to discuss online sportsbook applicants. Operators must submit their applications by Dec. 27, and the commission set a 60-day review period to approve licenses.

This officially closes hopes that North Carolina online sportsbooks will launch before the Super Bowl on Feb. 11.

North Carolina Deadline Set For Sportsbook Applicants

During the meeting, the commission explained they expect hundreds of applicants to apply for NC sportsbook licenses. The commission will have 60 days to review applicants, with the option to extend the review timeline an additional 30 days if necessary.

The tentative 60-day review would give the commission until Feb. 24 to approve betting licenses. Applicants must provide IT and responsible gaming policies, a business plan for the NC market, and their licensing history in other markets.

NC will also require operators to submit a North Carolina Key Person Disclosure Form. This was described as; “a personal history disclosure form, which must be completed by all key persons of the application and applicants for the three licenses.” Applicants would submit personal data, including education and employment history, for key individuals involved in the application process.

Could North Carolina Sportsbooks Launch In Time For March Madness?

While they didn’t set an official launch date, the Dec. 27 application deadline and 60-day review period create a likely window for North Carolina sportsbooks to go live. Operations must be live before Jun. 14, 2024, but with its strong college basketball culture, the commission could target a launch date in time for March Madness betting.

“We see questions about whether sports betting will be up and running in time for the Super Bowl,” said Ripley Rand, North Carolina Lottery Commission Chair. “It’s clear, however, with all the work remaining to be done and the timetable set out in state law, that unfortunately won’t be the case.”

With the current timeline, the commission will likely approve applicants by late February. Selection Sunday for March Madness begins on Mar. 17. That would give North Carolina operators a few weeks between being approved and launching their sportsbooks if everything goes to plan, meaning March Madness wagering in the state isn’t out of the question.

The commission will likely set a target launch date in the next few meetings.