As online sports betting goes live today in North Carolina, bettors and sports fans within the state will be presented with significantly expanded gambling opportunities. Although the North Carolina State Lottery Commission confirmed the launch would be at noon on March 11, punters had the opportunity to set up their accounts with legalized sportsbooks ahead of the official start.
The list of approved operators includes Betfair Interactive US, LLC, BETMGM, LLC, Crown NC Gaming, LLC, FBG Enterprises Opco, LLC, Hillside (North Carolina), LLC, Penn Sports Interactive, LLC, Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise, and Underdog Sports Wagering, LLC. In an effort to garner the attention of sports bettors, authorized companies offer promotional offers, incentivizing their future customers to explore the varied interactive wagering opportunities.
Betfair Interactive US, LLC, the owner and operator of the FanDuel Sportsbook, for example, offers its registered customers a $100 welcome bonus, with an additional $200 they are entitled to once they place a bet of at least $5.
North Carolina State Lottery Commission Provides Proactive Measures Promoting Responsible Gambling
With all the excitement surrounding the launch of sports betting in the Tar Heel State, the North Carolina State Lottery Commission has arranged for proactive measures aimed at promoting responsible gambling.
Each company having a license to operate in the state must have a responsible gaming program, including a self-exclusion feature. Operators are obliged to train their staff in how to apply responsible gambling tools, as well as include gambling addiction resources in their marketing campaigns. Furthermore, businesses are prohibited from targeting their marketing to people aged under 21.
As reported by ABC11, Jacob Blangsted-Barnor, Commercial Director of New States at FanDuel Sportsbook, said the company took responsible gambling practices “very seriously”. To make its offering appealing to bettors and ensure a safe sports wagering environment, the operator has several tools in place to adhere to the best responsible gambling practices. Customers of FanDuel have at their disposal tools such as limits on their deposits, wagers, as well time restrictions. In addition to these responsible gambling tools, clients of the brand can download their monthly activity statements and thus keep their wagering within reasonable limits more easily.
Rob Brazer, Vice President of Product for Fanatics Sportsbook, also commented on the available responsible gambling mechanisms in place: “Those sort of things are there and in place to help customers use sports betting for what it is, a form of entertainment while keeping themselves within their own means.”
The revenue generated from sports betting taxes and fees will be directed to multiple state government departments. Nearly $2 Million will be allocated to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to subsidize gambling addiction treatment services and resources.
