Two major North Carolina online sports betting operators announced required partnerships Friday, both with major names in the world of auto racing.
DraftKings NC will partner with NASCAR, which is headquartered in Charlotte. Meanwhile, BetMGM NC has agreed to terms with Charlotte Motor Speedway, which hosts two major races each year.
These partnerships, the fifth and sixth such agreements between operators and eligible businesses in North Carolina, are required under HB 347, the online sports betting legislation signed by Gov. Roy Cooper in June of 2023. Each potential operator must enter an agreement with an in-state professional sports team, league, or venue in order to do business.
More on the partnerships
DraftKings and NASCAR have frequently done business together over the years in other ways, so this partnership did not come as a surprise. That teamwork was mentioned frequently in a joint press release sent out as part of the announcement.
“DraftKings and NASCAR have collaborated closely with each other over the years, sharing a like-minded commitment to enhancing the fan experience,” said Matt Kalish, president of DraftKings North America. “We look forward to the next chapter in our journey together and offering our leading mobile sportsbook to fans in the state of North Carolina.”
“DraftKings has a proven track record of enhancing the fan experience across sports,” added Joe Solosky, NASCAR managing director, sports betting. “We are thrilled to continue working with DraftKings to deliver NASCAR fans more engagement opportunities and bring its leading mobile sportsbook to North Carolina.”
BetMGM, meanwhile, seemed delighted to have come to terms with Charlotte Motor Speedway in their own joint release.
“We have been eagerly awaiting legal, safe, regulated online sports betting in North Carolina, a state with more than 10 million people and one of the most vibrant sports environments in the country,” said BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt. “BetMGM’s partnership with Charlotte Motor Speedway meets a great demand for entertainment from North Carolinians. Together we will deliver a premier and responsible gaming product that benefits many state agencies.”
“With Charlotte Motor Speedway’s history of innovation, we wanted to move forward into this new era of sports entertainment with a progressive sportsbook,” added Charlotte Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Greg Walter. “This partnership with BetMGM will bring sports fans new ways to enjoy their favorite events while expanding North Carolina’s tax base, supporting colleges and facilitating recruitment of major events for the future.”
But when will NC online sports betting launch?
No “go-live” date has officially been announced yet. North Carolina online sports betting must launch by June 14, 2024. That’s the one-year anniversary of when HB 347 was signed into law.
We know the industry will not be live for Super Bowl LVIII next month. The next major event for North Carolina online sports betting would be the NCAA basketball tournament, which tips off in mid-March.
In a YouTube interview, Gov. Cooper said he was hopeful for a launch before the tournament. However, he stopped short of making any promises or guarantees in that regard.
