Sports betting is one step closer to launching in the Tar Heel State after the North Carolina Lottery Commission voted in favor of a second round of regulations to govern the market.
Following a round of public consultations, the Commission voted in favor of the second round of regulations, which means that fantasy sports games will not be part of North Carolina’s industry.
Fantasy sports language was dismissed from the rules following a public consultation in order to focus on the sports betting side of the law, which is likely to be more lucrative and is the centerpiece of the bill.
Looking at some of the regulations that are in the 256-page document, the committee has moved to ban terms such as “risk-free” and “free” from marketing materials, unless there is no material risk to the player or their actual cash.
Operators must also publish a responsible gaming report to the regulator in which they are required to explain how they will protect players and provide support.
Other RG requirements include offering access to the voluntary self-exclusion list; providing the regulator’s official problem gambling hotline number on the sportsbook app and ads, and including responsible gambling tools on platforms such as deposit limits and time-out periods.
Marketing restrictions are also included, mandating that adverts cannot “contain images, symbols, celebrity or entertainer endorsements, music, or language that have been used in connection with media or other programming specifically targeted at underage persons.”
Meanwhile, the application process for operators to gain a license is currently open and operators have until Dec. 27 to submit their interest in said licenses.
The Lottery has revealed that 14 operators have declared an interest in obtaining a license but did not disclose the identity of those operators.
However, three applicants are already known publicly. ESPN BET, bet365 and FanDuel have all reached Written Designated Agreements with sports teams and venues which are required by law to be able to apply for a sports wagering license.
ESPN BET has partnered with Quail Hollow Club, bet365 has linked with the Charlotte Hornets and FanDuel has an agreement with the PGA Tour.
