The North Carolina Lottery Commission on Thursday approved the first set of rules for the state’s mobile discussed Tuesday by the commission’s sports betting committee.
Removing a definition of fantasy sports contests from the proposed rules was among the commission’s most meaningful actions. The definition would have jeopardized the ability of fantasy sports operators like North Carolina.
Lottery commissioners have determined they’d rather not weigh in on the debate over whether those games are legal fantasy games or unregulated sports betting, which has been a point of contention in other states, so they’re aiming to avoid the conversation altogether for now.
“We have decided … that we want to take the time right now to focus on our main goal, which is getting licensees up, operating, and running so we can start having sports wagering in the state,” said the lottery’s chief legal officer, Billy Traurig. “To focus on this would be a distraction.”
Wagering on esports allowed 1ci6s
The state’s initial sports betting catalog was approved, and it includes sports you’d expect to be included based on other states. North Carolina residents will be able to wager on major sports like football, basketball, and baseball, with multiple leagues for each of those sports approved as legal betting markets.
Sterl Carpenter, the lottery’s deputy executive director of gaming compliance and sports betting, clarified that esports wagering will be allowed once mobile wagering is up and running, which had seemed in question following Tuesday’s meeting.
“Esports is allowed in the state of North Carolina, but currently at this time we are waiting for operators to present their petition for which leagues they wish to offer in this type of event,” Carpenter said.
Next steps z45i
Public comment remains open for a second set of North Carolina mobile sports wagering rules. A public comment hearing will be held Monday, and the written public comment period ends on Nov. 27.
The sports betting committee is expected to discuss the rules again on Dec. 6, factoring in public .
The launch of legal sports betting apps will occur sometime after Jan. 8, which is the earliest date the market could launch under state legislation. Mobile wagering is mandated to begin by mid-June at the latest.
No timeline has been given for when operators can apply for licenses.
