FanDuel has been named as an official sports betting partner of the National Football League (NFL) Carolina Panthers, just days before North Carolina’s legal mobile sports betting market opens.
The North Carolina State Lottery Commission confirmed the 11 March launch date for the state’s mobile sports betting market in January. Players could register for – and fund – accounts from 1 March.
The new partnership between FanDuel and the Carolina Panthers’ NFL team allows fans to pre-register on the FanDuel Sportsbook app ahead of the market’s go-live date. FanDuel will also collaborate with the team on social media content and display digital signage at the Carolina Panthers’ Bank of America Stadium.
North Carolina marks the 22nd state where FanDuel is active with mobile sports betting. It joins the likes of Arizona, Colorado and New Jersey.
Mike Raffensperger, chief commercial officer at FanDuel, said bringing the operator to North Carolina represented a significant milestone.
“Bringing FanDuel to sports fans across North Carolina is an important moment for our business and we are thrilled to be able to work with the Carolina Panthers to introduce their fanbase to America’s number one sportsbook,” said Raffensperger. “We look forward to supporting the team next season and to engaging the passionate sports fans across North Carolina with our product.”
Kristi Coleman, president of the Carolina Panthers, said the partnership would open the team up to future opportunities.
“We are thrilled to welcome FanDuel as an official sports betting partner,” said Coleman. “As we look ahead to the 2024 season, we’re excited about the opportunities this partnership presents to deliver unique and engaging experiences to our fans while they are in North Carolina.”
North Carolina proving popular with operators
North Carolina has emerged as a popular market for operators to make their mark in. Several have been clamouring for space ahead of the go-live date.
The market’s launch will come days before the beginning of March Madness, the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s yearly college basketball tournament.
The state’s Commission confirmed eight interactive sports wagering licences last week. It asserted that FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Fanatics, Bet365, ESPN Bet and Underdog are licensed ahead of the launch date.
This week Caesars Entertainment became the first operator to launch in the market, made possible through a tribal partnership agreed with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in January. The tribe was also the recipient of an interactive sports wagering licence issued last week.
How is the state preparing for launch?
North Carolina’s sports betting market was set into play on 14 June 2023. This was when Governor Roy Cooper signed House Bill 347 into law. The bill outlined a timeline for the market’s launch, stipulating that North Carolina must publish regulations before 8 January 2024. It also mandated that operators must accept wagers before 14 June 2024.
Ahead of 11 March, North Carolina’s Commission issued supplier licences to GeoComply and SBTech.
In addition, the Commission approved a voluntary self-exclusion programme for state residents. This forms part of the NC Problem Gambling Programme, which will receive an additional $2m per year to expand it as outlined in House Bill 347.
Players can select self-exclusion periods of one year, three years, five years or for their entire lifetime.
