Catawba Tribe Pursues Online Sportsbook License Approval in North Carolina
State officials from the Catawba Tribe in North Carolina have announced their intentions to apply for an online sportsbook license, following a recent agreement from state lawmakers on a sports betting bill.
The North Carolina General Assembly recently sent House Bill 347 to Governor Roy Cooper’s (D) desk for signing. This bill, once signed, would allow for up to 12 online sportsbook licenses to be issued.
North Carolina does not have any commercial casinos. The state's first expansion of commercial gaming since its lottery in 2005 will be conducted entirely online.
The Catawbas, who run Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain, around 30 miles west of Charlotte, already have a retail sportsbook at their resort. Two Kings Sportsbook is operated by IGT through a partnership with the Catawbas.
In 2021, North Carolina revised its two Class III gaming compacts with its two federally recognized tribes, which operate tribal casinos, to include in-person sports betting.
Proposed Online Sportsbook App
In the wake of state lawmakers reaching a consensus on an online sports betting bill, Catawba leaders expressed their desire to enter the commercial gambling market.
Glen White, a spokesperson for Two Kings, said after the state's online sports betting bill was passed that the tribe hopes the state's initiative would create new jobs and stimulate economic activity for North Carolinians, while safeguarding the jobs of their current and future casino employees, and securing their investment in the casino.
White also mentioned that the tribe is already working on building a sportsbook app. Although the specific partner for their mobile app was not mentioned, IGT offers a variety of business-to-business turnkey sports betting app solutions.
A possible online sportsbook set to hit North Carolina next year could be Caesars Sportsbook. Caesars Entertainment, the owner of the iGaming and internet sports betting unit, manages two tribal casinos in North Carolina on behalf of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Harrah’s Cherokee and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River, situated in the southwestern portion of the state, both have retail Caesars Sportsbooks.
Bill on Cooper's Desk
The sports betting bill from North Carolina has been sent to Cooper's desk in Raleigh for final approval.
The North Carolina Constitution grants the governor 10 days from receipt of a measure passed by the General Assembly to veto the legislation, sign the statute into law, or choose to not endorse the bill but allow it to become law without his signature after the 10-day period.
Cooper has expressed his support for North Carolina joining the 30+ other states that have legalized sports gambling. The US Supreme Court abolished a federal law in May 2018 that had restricted single-game sports gambling to Nevada, thereby allowing states to set their own laws regarding sports betting.
Online sportsbook licenses in North Carolina will cost $1 million, and each book will be required to share 18% of its gross proceeds with the state.
State financial forecasts predict that North Carolina could generate over $100 million in new tax revenue annually from a mature online sports betting market.
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