FanDuel NC has officially formed a required partnership ahead of the launch of North Carolina online sports betting. The industry stalwart has agreed to do business with the PGA Tour, one of the Tar Heel State’s designated partners.
We still don’t know when online sports betting in North Carolina will go live. However, this partnership checks a necessary box for FanDuel and helps ensure FanDuel NC will be an option for in-state sports bettors as early as possible.
Why is this FanDuel NC partnership important?
North Carolina online sports betting legislation states that all operators must partner with either a professional sports franchise or a league. This development, first reported by Sports Business Journal, ensures FanDuel NC stays in compliance with North Carolina sports betting rules.
FanDuel isn’t the first operator to secure such a partnership. The Charlotte Hornets teamed up with bet365, and Quail Hollow Club inked a deal with Penn Entertainment (the operator behind ESPN BET). However, this is the first North Carolina sports betting deal between an operator and a professional sports league.
What other partnerships could be coming?
Plenty of operators are still in the process of finding dance partners, so to speak. The online sportsbooks below still have not announced partnerships:
Meanwhile, plenty of notable North Carolina sports teams are still on the market. The Carolina Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes, to name two, have yet to announce partnerships with North Carolina online sportsbooks.
What about NASCAR?
NASCAR has been quiet on this matter so far. The country’s most prominent auto racing organization is headquartered in Charlotte and is likely seen as a very attractive potential partner.
While it’s not necessarily an indicator of which way they’ll go, NASCAR did enter a multi-year agreement with BetMGM in August of 2020. That deal brought NASCAR offerings to sports bettors in states where BetMGM was live at the time, and officials spoke glowingly about the platform.
“Partnering with a best-in-class operator like BetMGM positions NASCAR to build on the positive energy and momentum we’re seeing around gaming and in particular the live in-race experience,” said Scott Warfield, NASCAR Managing Director, Gaming, in a press release announcing the agreement. “We’re excited to have such an iconic brand on board to expand our offerings and deepen our engagement with the most passionate fans in sports.”
