Crank up the countdown. A March like no other approaches the Tar Heel state.
February’s final week sparks a peek around the corner at North Carolina’s expanding sports betting world. Gamblers eying the treasure trove of mobile betting options may soon discover a bonus: the scheduling Gods have dangled additional betting carrots.
And it’s mere days away. Sportsbooks and gamblers circle March 1 and March 11, two dates propelling North Carolina into a new betting age.
Here is more on North Carolina sports betting.
Learn More: North Carolina Sports Betting
North Carolina Sports Betting Overview
Patrons will receive a bevy of signup offers on March 1 and start launching the online bets on March 11.
This will be a delightful shopping process for bettors seeing up to eight operators stalking their business. Offers aren’t known yet, but this figures to be one of the better grand opening specials delivered to new customers. Many states that legalized gambling earlier had fewer operators.
Gamblers with so many offers can stash a nice bankroll to start their journey.
After receiving the offers, bettors will then plunge into a loaded schedule enhanced by chance.
Start with the NHL, in which the perennially strong Carolina Hurricanes host the New York Rangers on March 12 and the Florida Panthers on March 14. They then visit the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 16 and the Ottawa Senators on March 17.
What a blazing week. The ‘Canes, Rangers, and Panthers all entered late February with more than 70 points. All are capable of a deep Stanley Cup playoff run. Bet these teams’ head-to-head showdowns for the first time from the comfort of your phone.
And then come the hoops.
The NCAA conference basketball tournaments and March Madness are one week later than normal this year. It’s almost like they wanted to accommodate North Carolina betting interests.
The ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament is scheduled for March 12-16 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. Gamblers can get tournament futures bets down just in time.
Then come the national tournaments and its whirlwind betting marathon. It was important that North Carolina got up and running in time for March college hoops revenue.
DraftKings Boss Notes the Perfect Betting Storm
“The scheduling is absolutely tremendous,” Johnny Avello, the director of race and sportsbook operations for DraftKings, told Gaming Today. “That’s a big plus because these conference tournaments are phenomenal. They have always gotten packed houses at the sportsbooks. I think people come in for those, especially on the weekend, because they don’t want to fight the crowds for March Madness the following week, and many of these games will be just as good.
“The fans and the bettors are also familiar with these teams. They have often seen the teams play each other throughout the season. After the conference tournaments, it’s the Big Dance.”
North Carolina Basketball Remains Strong
North Carolina men’s basketball teams remain natural betting magnets. Year after year, they win.
Two of them, Duke and North Carolina, are No. 8 and 10 in the latest AP poll. They also sport a distinction that can’t be matched.
The campuses are only eight miles apart, connected by bus service and students that take courses at both schools. One bus ride links two national powerhouses.
NC State and Wake Forest aren’t as strong but did enter the week with winning records.
The four North Carolina schools have a combined 13 men’s national basketball championships — UNC has 7 (6 NCAA), Duke has 5, and NC State has 2.
“North Carolina basketball is always strong,” Avello noted. “We have Duke at No. 8 in the country, and North Carolina was up as high as No. 3.
“Duke has been a good price all year on the futures (now +2500). There weren’t many people who thought they could get it done this year, but I don’t know if I agree with that.”
Duke and Wake Forest renew their rivalry with a game on Saturday. It is the oldest rivalry among the big four North Carolina schools, dating back to 1905-06.
North Carolina Bettors No Longer Need to Travel
It won’t take bettors long to enjoy the luxury of a sportsbook at their fingertips. Scour odds, shop books, and find those important half-point edges without leaving the house. Or the den, for that matter.
“People I know in North Carolina tell me how they cross the border into Virginia or Tennessee to place a bet,” Avello noted. “We have seen it from the beginning of the legalized sports betting age.
“I always think about all the people from New York who crossed into New Jersey to place bets, even taking a bike across the bridge,” he laughed. “That stopped when they got betting there.
“So here is what you may see now. The people in North Carolina will be happy they can stay home and make a bet. That’s a huge convenience. I know even for me in Las Vegas, I may not want to fight the traffic to go somewhere in the city to make a bet now that I can do it on my phone. If you have to get up and leave your house, you may not think it’s worthwhile.”
North Carolina Gives Sportsbooks a Major Lift
This is an excellent state for sportsbooks to place into their lineup.
North Carolina is the ninth largest state in the union, with a population nearing 11 million. This is a significant launch for sports betting apps because big-money states like California, Texas, and Florida have not been legalized. Other big jurisdictions, like New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Ohio, are already in the online gambling lineup.
Books will like this fit and the fighting chance to thrive. Operators will be taxed 18% on all gross gaming revenues and pay a $1 million licensing fee. Compare this with the punitive 51% rate levied in New York, which operators stood in line to pay.
State officials wisely chose not to put a heavy tax grip on the necks of North Carolina operators. The state’s tax rate is in line with Tennessee at 20%.
And, soon enough, it’s jump ball.
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