Sports betting in North Carolina has exploded in popularity since it was legalized in 2021. The state now offers legal gambling at a growing number of retail sites and via user-friendly online sportsbooks. As more sports betting operators launch platforms in North Carolina, more people are traveling there specifically to place wagers on games as well as enjoy the state’s unique sports teams and attractions.
Visit Top Professional Stadiums
North Carolina is home to two major professional sports franchises with large, state-of-the-art stadiums that attract big crowds. Key venues you can visit include:
Bank of America Stadium (Carolina Panthers)
This 75,000-seat football stadium located in Charlotte has been the home field of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers since it opened in 1996. You can tour the stadium and go behind-the-scenes most days when games and events aren’t happening. Or you can catch a Panthers home game in person and cheer on current standout players like running back Christian McCaffrey, wide receiver DJ Moore, and defensive end Brian Burns.
Thanks to sports betting’s legal status, football fans can now maximize their live game experience. Using the Panthers mobile betting app, you can place real-money wagers on anything from the point spread, to the next scoring player, to the number of rushing yards McCaffrey will tally. Hitting a same-game parlay as a touchdown gets scored in front of you makes for an exhilarating feeling. Winning a bet makes victories that much sweeter, while losing bets keep the action interesting if the Panthers trail.
PNC Arena (Carolina Hurricanes)
Ice hockey may not come to mind when thinking of North Carolina, but the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes have developed an avid regional fanbase since relocating from Hartford in 1997. See the Canes play live at PNC Arena, which holds nearly 20,000 cheering fans in Raleigh. Use one of the betting kiosks conveniently located inside PNC Arena to wager on the Hurricanes before the puck drops or between periods and intermissions.
The buzzing atmosphere and intense action on the ice makes Hurricanes games thrilling to watch live. Everyone jumps to their feet when Carolina scores or starting goalie Frederik Andersen makes a clutch save. Special promotions like $1 hot dogs and $5 craft beer nights ensure Canes home games are affordable too. Add money on the line by using North Carolina sportsbooks to bet on anything from Hurricanes futures odds to win the Stanley Cup to whether emerging star forward Seth Jarvis will score a goal.
Tailgating and College Sports Atmosphere
Beyond the pro stadiums, North Carolina also offers outstanding environments for college sports along with iconic tailgating scenes. The state features major Division 1 programs like UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke, NC State, Wake Forest and East Carolina.
Massive parking lots surrounding football stadiums fill up hours before kickoff. Fans barbecue classic Southern foods like pulled pork, ribs, cole slaw, deviled eggs and cornbread or feast on delicious low country boils. Sip local craft brews as you toss footballs and cornhole bags. Then make your way inside to scream yourself hoarse cheering your team on. Just don’t have too many drinks that you forget to cash your profitable moneyline bet on the team you backed!
North Carolina’s college basketball culture eclipses even football. UNC and Duke have perhaps the most heated hoops rivalry nationwide. Their twice annual showdowns sees students camp out for weeks to get tickets and frequently decide the ACC title. Attending one of these games in person should be on any sports fans’ bucket list. The deafening noise of the Dean Smith Center as UNC battles for in-state bragging rights produces memories that last forever.
Beyond games, be sure to explore North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame exhibits highlighting local legends like Michael Jordan, Dale Earnhardt, Arnold Palmer and more. Also check out the collegiate sports museums and displays on famous campuses like Wake Forest, NC State, Duke and UNC.
Picturesque Nature and Lifestyle
Even beyond the stadiums and arenas, North Carolina offers first-rate outdoor recreation and sightseeing opportunities. The stunning Blue Ridge Mountains provide postcard views on drives along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Hiking trails wind through the foliage, giving a workout while you breathe the crisp clean air. Relax afterwards soaking in the western hot springs nestled in the hills.
Along the Atlantic coast, stretches of soft sandy beaches meet the temperate waters, creating pleasant vacation spots. Charter local fishing boats to reel in mahi-mahi, tuna or even marlin. Get soaked riding the waves on rented surfboards and boogie boards. Enjoy beachside seafood boils or cookouts as the sun sets over Cape Hatteras.
The state also developed a passionate food and drink culture you can savor between the sports events you bet on. North Carolina barbecue is practically a religion, with locals fiercely proud of sauces, cuts of meat, smoke levels and sides. The variety of craft breweries could fill a road trip itinerary on their own. There’s also innovative fusions happening in the restaurant scene in cities like Asheville, Charlotte and Durham that foodies appreciate.
Nature hikes work up your appetite during the day. Nightlife kicks the fun up a notch with concerts, comedy clubs, bars and dancing to burn off the delicious calories afterwards.
North Carolina Sports Betting’s Continued Rise
While sports teams, food, sightseeing and nightlife lure visitors, sports betting’s recent arrival bolsters the state’s appeal especially for hardcore fans. Sports wagering used to require traveling out of state to Nevada or illegally through local bookies and offshore sites. Now anyone 21+ within North Carolina lines can bet on sports legally at retail sportsbooks or using mobile sports betting apps.
The addition of online sports betting, including full functionality on iOS and Android mobile devices, cemented North Carolina as an ideal state for sports gamblers. Bettors don’t have travel to distant casinos anymore. They can simply download an app, fund their account quickly, analyze odds and player props, and place real money bets conveniently from their phones.
Leading sportsbooks like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and Caesars launched in North Carolina shortly after legislation passed. Being established brands elsewhere instills trust in their betting platforms. All financial transactions and personal data are fully safeguarded as well by strict state regulations.
These mobile apps make sports gambling easy for both first-time hobbyists and seasoned vets. Hundreds of betting options include spreads, moneylines, over/unders, parlays, futures and more across every pro league like NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL plus major college sports. And thanks to live betting capabilities, you can wager on odds as the on-field action unfolds in real-time for an extra adrenaline kick.
In its first full year since launching, North Carolina’s sports betting handle surpassed $3 billion behind huge interest. handle and revenue continue sharply increasing and more platforms are launching like WynnBet, PointsBet and BetRivers.
The economic impact spreads across North Carolina, beyond just bettors able to enjoy wagering. Sports betting tax revenues should help North Carolina’s government budgets while operators and hospitality businesses also see financial gains. Further job creation and tourism dollars are welcome positives of legal wagering too for local economies.
Ideal for Sports Bettors
As North Carolina cements itself as a top-tier sports betting market and travel destination for out-of-state visitors, serious sports gamblers have so much to look forward to. Scheduling trips for Panthers or Hurricanes games provides live entertainment while mobile betting apps allow placing wagers anytime. Spend college football Saturdays tailgating then putting money behind your picks. Catch UNC and Duke’s epic basketball rivalry with bets riding on #1 seeds during March Madness.
Explore Asheville’s breweries, Charlotte’s food scene, Wilmington’s beaches and Blue Ridge mountain ranges between the bets you place on games all season and postseason long. Wherever you travel across North Carolina with legal sports gambling available, combining tourist activities with sports wagering promises exciting opportunities to make bankrolls and memories grow.
