Harrah's Cherokee Casino

  • New compacts between North Carolina and local tribes have been approved by the federal government.
  • This brings North Carolina one step closer to launching legal sports betting.
  • The goal is to launch sports betting in time for March Madness betting.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Sports betting in North Carolina is now one step closer to launching after the compacts between the state and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have been approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The amended compact was approved by the tribes and state since November and has been awaiting federal approval for months. The goal now is to have sports betting available at the tribal casinos in time for March Madness betting.

North Carolina Sports Betting

North Carolina passed legal sports betting legislation in 2019, but has been delayed in launching for many reasons. One main factor was the 2020 COVID-19 shutdowns. This delayed meetings with the Cherokee Tribe with discussing the gaming compacts. The tribal council eventually managed to approve the compacts, and have been waiting for federal approval since December.

The compacts were approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs, but no official date for the launch has been set.

North Carolina sports betting could go live at any moment, however, as all the steps have been made and all the agreements have been approved. The law allows for legal sports betting at the two tribal casinos only currently. This will see tribes host betting lines for major games and sporting events. North Carolina is home to a strong sports fan base, so sports betting should be a successful market in the Tar Heel State.

It is likely to happen within the next few weeks as college basketball betting is in full swing. North Carolina is slated to be among to first sports betting markets to launch in 2021.

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