Just in time for the ACC Tournament and March Madness, sports betting in North Carolina can begin on March 11.
State Lottery Commission members ratified the decision during their meeting on Wednesday.
They cautioned that no bets are legal until noon on March 11. They also noted that bets on horse racing are “not yet authorized.”
Even bets on human sports are contingent on the commission soon approving operator’s licenses for one or more sports books. The commission next meets on Feb. 7.
A key deadline is coming up on Friday, when Lottery Commission staffers want to receive details about the “internal controls” the applicants propose to ensure the smooth functioning of their operations.
“By meeting the deadline, an operator-applicant helps ensure it is ready to offer sports wagering on the first day,” they say.
The ACC Tournament’s first game is scheduled to tip off at 2 p.m. on March 12. It’s being played this year in the Capitol One Arena in Washington, D.C.
For men’s teams, play in this year’s NCAA Tournament will begin on March 19. Charlotte’s Spectrum Center will host one set of first-round regional matchups on March 21 and March 23.
