Last Wednesday, the North Carolina State Lottery Commission unanimously approved a staff recommendation to revisit the adoption of the proposed Subchapter C. Since sports betting became legal for NC residents in June 2023, the state has said it will offer pari-mutuel wagering. However, the state’s demand to open online casinos and sportsbooks was much greater. During the State Lottery Commission’s final meeting of 2024, members agreed to await potential legislative changes to Article 10.
Hayden Bauguess is the Chief Government Affairs Officer. He noted that the general assembly is expected to provide a “framework for a more holistic approach.” This will be discussed in their 2025 legislative session from January to July. It could take until the second half of 2025 for pari-mutuel wagering to be readily available in North Carolina.
For now, the commission will continue working on rule-making with the process being finalized. Once the legislative period begins, they can make subtle changes and move forward in this taxing process. While there are residents who want pari-mutuel wagering, its delay is allowing for more economic impact discussions. This also gives applicants for betting licenses more time to review the general wagering rules.
What will pari-mutuel wagering look like in North Carolina?
North Carolina is the first state to implement pari-mutuel wagering since the 1990s. The state lottery commission planned to offer pari-mutuel wagering last summer. However, the desire for online sportsbooks was much greater. Addressing pari-mutuel wagering was something the commission knew they could discuss down the line. With online sportsbooks in full form, lawmakers are ready to discuss the legalization of pari-mutuel wagering in 2025.
State regulators released the first rules and procedures package in September. Additionally, they’ve held multiple public comment periods. Hayden Bauguess noted that launching online pari-mutuel wagering first is a “viable” option. The State Lottery Commission also approved several Chapter A general rule amendments. That includes declining to change how account suspensions are handled until they have more information. On top of all this, the sports betting committee requested a rebrand and that was unanimously approved. They are now known as the Regulated Gaming Committee in North Carolina.
