Guidance on Sportsbooks and eSports Wagers Approved

North Carolina State Lottery Commission also gets update on pari-mutuel wagering

RALEIGH, NC (September 27, 2024) – The North Carolina State Lottery Commission on Wednesday approved a process to open a Place of Public Accommodation for sports betting, places commonly called sportsbooks; approved new guidance on wagering on esports, and received an update on pari-mutuel horse race wagering.

Places of Public Accommodation

The Certificate of Compliance for Permanent Places of Public Accommodation outlines the process that a licensed interactive sports wagering operator is to follow if it seeks to open a permanent, in-person sports wagering facility. “Permanent Places of Public Accommodation” is the official, statutory name of what is more commonly known as a sportsbook.

eSports

The commission’s approved Electronic Sports Guidance describes the Gaming Compliance and Sports Betting Division’s current approach to regulating wagering on electronic sports. A newly developed Petition for eSport Events or Wagers Form provides a pathway to request the addition of esport events to the state’s sports wagering catalog. That form can be found on the commission’s website along with the updated Petition for New Events or Wagers Form for traditional sporting event requests.

Pari-Mutuel Wagering Update

Commission members also received an update on staff’s progress to implement pari-mutuel horse race wagering via pari-mutuel online and mobile wagering operations. No projected launch date exists at this time; however, a rulemaking process is underway and includes proposed rules for authorized pari-mutuel wagering.

Public comment on the Notice of Rulemaking is open online through 11:59 p.m. Oct. 18. Comments can be made in person at a public comment session on Oct. 8 at 9 a.m. at the North Carolina State Lottery Commission Headquarters, 2728 Capital Boulevard, Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604. You can register for that session using this link.

Public comments can also be emailed to PublicComment@ncgaming.gov, along with your name, contact information, business or organization (if applicable), and the rule numbers associated with your comments.

For further information, consult the Notice of Rulemaking linked above or email SportsWagering@ncgaming.gov.

SOURCE: North Carolina Lottery Commission.