If the bill is passed via vote and Gov. Roy Cooper signs off on it, it will set the legal gambling age at 21. Prospective bettors will have their choice of professional, amateur, and collegiate sports at retail, online, and mobile sportsbooks.
Revenue will be allocated to various local organizations, including $2 million annually to the Department of Health and Human Services for problem gambling, $1 million annually to North Carolina Amateur Sports for the development of youth sports programs and facilities, $1 million to the North Carolina Outdoor Heritage Advisory Council to help fund local teams and attract out-of-state competitors, and $300,000 annually to athletics departments at in-state universities.
Up to 12 licenses would be available for sports betting agencies to purchase, assuming they were approved by the local regulator. Each license would cost $1 million and would grant the recipient eligibility for five years.
North Carolina sports are on the uptick, making the potential sports betting market more lucrative. The Carolina Panthers recently had the number-one pick in the NFL draft and selected Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, who they hope will be their cornerstone piece for a decade-plus.
The Charlotte Hornets also have the second pick in the upcoming NBA Draft and will likely pair one of Brandon Miller or Scoot Henderson with All-Star LaMelo Ball in what is a young and exciting squad.
College sports, specifically those involving the University of North Carolina and Duke University, are also tremendously popular in North Carolina.