Fanatics Sportsbook Gains North Carolina Access Through Deal With Hurricanes

Fanatics Sportsbook signaled their intention to enter what is expected to be a busy North Carolina sports betting market with a Friday announcement of a partnership deal with the state's NHL franchise, the Carolina Hurricanes.

Under North Carolina law, sportsbooks hoping to become part of the North Carolina sports betting scene are mandated to partner with one of the state's pro sports teams or one of the sporting venues in the state. Fanatics checked that box with their Hurricanes deal.

Hopeful sportsbooks have until Dece. 27 to submit applications to the North Carolina State Lottery Commission before an expected 60-day vetting period and an eventual legal sports betting launch in the Tar Heel State in March.

Some details of the deal

Fanatics is set to join the North Carolina sports betting scene, and new users are encouraged to take advantage of all the top North Carolina sportsbook promos ahead of the launch.

Under the Fanatics/Hurricanes partnership deal, the sports betting provider becomes the NHL team’s exclusive mobile sports betting operator. The deal also gives Fanatics the opportunity to open a retail sportsbook at the home of the Hurricanes in the PNC Arena.

Fanatics will get the usual branded signage in and around the arena and will gain valuable exposure with all of the hockey club’s social media outlets. The Fanatics Sportsbook North Carolina name will be present anywhere the team goes.

The Carolina Hurricanes gain "fan enhancement" opportunities, meaning fans of the team will have a chance at special team-themed bonuses and contests on the Fanatics site.

North Carolina market building

There are a total of 11 of the best sports betting apps that will be awarded in North Carolina. Fanatics, thanks to their partnership with the Carolina Hurricanes, is the fourth sportsbook to announce their intention to go live in the Tar Heel State.

The other partnerships with the best sportsbooks include:

• bet365 with the NBA's Charlotte Hornets 
• ESPN BET with Quail Hollow Club
• FanDuel with the PGA Tour

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has also partnered with Caesars to provide in-person sports betting in the state.

It means that there are seven North Carolina sports teams/venues that still need to partner with one of the North Carolina betting sites. And the they will have to do so quickly.

Those sporting entities that still need to align themselves with a legal sports betting provider include:

• Carolina Panthers of the NFL
• Charlotte FC
• Charlotte Motor Speedway
• NASCAR
• NC Courage
• North Wilkesboro Speedway
• Sedgefield Country Club 

Looking forward

There is just over a week left for hopeful North Carolina sports betting sites to partner with a state sports team or venue before the licensing process. At the end of December, the North Carolina Lottery Commission gets to work finalizing their list of sports wagering providers.

Expect heavy hitters like DraftKings, Caesars Sportsbook, and BetMGM to be among the providers chasing partnerships in the state. The Tar Heel State is expected to draw a lot of interest as the biggest and most-anticipated state to launch in 2024.

The news is coming in fast out of North Carolina. Sports betting was signed into law in June, final rules for the platform were released last week, a deadline for sportsbook applications comes Dec. 27, and launch of North Carolina sports betting apps is expected in March.

While not having the platform up-and-running ahead of the Super Bowl is not ideal, March Madness for the basketball-crazed state is the next best thing.