North Carolina State Lottery Commission encourages responsible betting this football season

08/27/2025

As football season kicks off, the North Carolina State Lottery Commission is reminding sports fans who are 21 years or older to enjoy wagering responsibly and to place bets with licensed operators.

Across the United States, sports wagering activity increases every fall. North Carolina is no exception. Between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30, 2024, when most college football and NFL regular season games were played last year, account holders in North Carolina placed more than $1.8 billion in wagers – an increase of more than $700 million over the previous three summer months.

Betting through Commission-approved operators ensures important player protections that are not available through illegal or offshore sites. Licensed operators must follow strict laws and rules that:

• Verify players are eligible to wager.
• Protect player accounts and personal information
• Provide responsible gaming tools and resources.

The following operators are licensed to offer sports wagers in North Carolina:

• Bet365
• BETMGM
• Caesars Sportsbook (on behalf of Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprises)
• DraftKings
• ESPN BET
• Fanatics Sportsbook
• FanDuel
• Underdog Sports Wagering

The Commission is committed to protecting players. All licensed operators must provide wagering rules, odds information, and responsible gaming tools on their sites and apps. Players can access features to set deposit or spending limits or take “time out” breaks. Knowing the operator’s rules and odds of the game can help players play responsibly. Check your operator’s online platform or contact them to learn more. Information for players is also available on the Commission’s website, NCGaming.gov.

“Sports wagering should always be about entertainment and fun. It’s not a financial strategy,” said Eric Snider, chief regulatory officer for the North Carolina Lottery Commission. “We encourage everyone to set a budget and learn about deposit limits, time reminders, and self-exclusion options. Licensed operators make these and other tools available so the sports betting experience can be safe, balanced, and fun.”

The Commission provides additional information about responsible gaming and the North Carolina Problem Gambling Program, including a 24/7 helpline, on our Responsible Gaming web page.

By law, taxes from legal sports wagering revenue benefit the state’s General Fund; gambling addiction education and treatment; and collegiate sports, youth sports, and major events, games and attractions in North Carolina.