Less than 24 hours after being approved by the North Carolina State Lottery Commission, Caesars Sportsbook announced Friday it became the first online sports betting operator to take a wager in the state.
Statewide online North Carolina sports betting won’t begin until March 11. However, Caesars is partnering with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, with whom it manages two Harrah’s casinos on the tribe’s land. Because of that relationship and the gaming compact EBCI established with the state that was approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Caesars app became available for use on the 57,000 acres of property the tribe controls in the southwestern corner of the state.
Tribal gaming is not regulated by the state. It is regulated locally by the Cherokee Tribal Gaming Commission and the federal level by the National Indian Gaming Commission per the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, the 1988 federal law authorizing Indian gaming activities.
North Carolina lawmakers previously voted to allow tribal gaming operators to host brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, and the first one opened at Harrah’s Cherokee nearly three years ago.
“Over the years, the partnership between the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Caesars Entertainment has only flourished and strengthened,” EBCI Principal Chief Michell Hicks. “We eagerly anticipate the chance to introduce mobile sports betting to North Carolina, offering a fresh and new experience to all sports fans.”
First Bet Placed On College Hoops
According to a Caesars spokesperson, the first online Caesars Sportsbook North Carolina bet placed within EBCI territory was a $50 wager on the South Alabama Jaguars men’s basketball team to cover a 7.5-point spread against the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks in a Sun Belt Conference game Friday night. If correct, the bettor will get $97.50, which includes their $50 bet and $47.50 in winnings.
Caesars also confirmed to BetCarolina.com that the app available on EBCI lands will be the same one offered to others across North Carolina. People in other parts of North Carolina can download the app as of Friday and pre-register in advance of the March 11 statewide launch.
In addition, there will be no differences in the markets offered, Caesars said.
“The Caesars Sportsbook app is the perfect complement to our in-person retail sportsbooks in Western North Carolina that so many sports fans have enjoyed for years,” said Eric Hession, President of Caesars Digital. “We’re thankful to be able to offer wagering at the Harrah’s Cherokee properties as part of our longstanding relationship with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and with the sports calendar heating up, there is a lot to be excited about. Thank you to the National Indian Gaming Commission, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the North Carolina State Lottery Commission, and its Sports Betting Committee for making this day a possibility.”
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