The regulators in North Carolina are hard at work to ready for launch in early 2024. Now, the deals that will grant operators entry are starting to fall into place.
On Friday, bet365 and the Charlotte Hornets announced the first partnership for the state. The deal gives bet365 access into the state, as operators are required to partner with a professional team as a condition of licensing.
Additionally, bet365 branding will be featured at Spectrum Center as well as integrated into the team’s digital assets.
“Everyone at bet365 is thrilled to partner with the Hornets, as we launch our iconic sports betting brand in North Carolina. The Hornets’ rich and dynamic history is deep rooted in the Queen City community, and we’re abuzz to become part of their exciting future,” said a bet365 spokesperson.
“We are excited to announce this partnership with bet365,” added Hornets Sports & Entertainment Chief Revenue Officer Jacob Gallagher. “Since the day Governor Cooper signed sports wagering into law at Spectrum Center in June, we sought a partner that would help us provide our fans with new, additional opportunities to engage with their favorite sports teams. We are confident that bet365 is a great fit with our organization and can help us do that.”
Bet365 now has five major league deals with the following teams:
- Charlotte Hornets
- Cleveland Guardians
- Colorado Rockies
- San Antonio Spurs
Washington Commanders
While sports betting is not legal in Texas, bet365 does have a partnership with the Spurs to offer a free-to-play game to fans.
This is the first partnership between a North Carolina sports team and an operator but expect more announcements in the coming weeks as the state draws closer to launch.
