North Carolina is advancing proposals to introduce pari-mutuel wagering, retail sports betting, and esports betting, providing new opportunities for bettors across the state.
On Wednesday, the North Carolina State Lottery Commission’s sports betting committee unanimously approved a notice of proposed rule-making for pari-mutuel wagering, empowering staff to proceed with formal procedures. The move also brings the state closer to offering retail sportsbooks and expanding its online betting catalog to include esports.
The commission has opened a 30-day window for public comment, allowing stakeholders to provide feedback on the proposed regulations before they are finalized. This period will close on October 18, 2024, after which the rules are expected to be adopted.
Although North Carolina legalized online sports betting in March 2024, the launch of brick-and-mortar sportsbooks has faced delays. Regulators are working through various requirements, such as lab certifications and on-site inspections, before retail venues can open.
Sterl Carpenter, deputy executive director of Gaming Compliance and Sports Betting, said that there will not be a single launch date for retail sports betting, as each operator and venue will have a unique opening plan.
Pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing is another focus, but regulators have yet to commit to a launch date. The commission is working to ensure the system is developed “efficiently and responsibly.”
“As we move to this next phase of implementation, we plan to present our expectations to applicants and licensees to conduct transparent rule-making, accept and review stakeholder feedback, and develop regulations in the same and responsible way we did with sports wagering,” Carpenter added.
In addition to traditional sports, North Carolina is positioning itself to tap into the growing esports market. A petition for esports guidance will be presented at the commission’s meeting on September 25, 2024. The global esports market is projected to reach $7.5 billion by 2031, adding a significant new avenue for the state’s wagering landscape.
Since the introduction of online sports betting in March 2024, North Carolina’s eight operators have generated over $2.3 billion in wagers, resulting in $275 million in gaming revenue and $49.5 million in tax revenue for the state.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/noticias/2024/09/19/79215-north-carolina-moves-closer-to-legalizing-parimutuel-wagering-retail-sports-betting-and-esports
