NASCAR Deal to Provide DraftKings With North Carolina Sports Betting Access

DraftKings will officially join the North Carolina legal sports betting scene when it launches in the next few months following its partnership with NASCAR.

James Bisson

Last updated: January 8, 2024 9:36 AM EST • 2 min read

DraftKings will officially join the North Carolina legal sports betting scene when it launches in the next few months.

DraftKings and NASCAR will team up in a multi-year agreement that will provide the sports betting provider with access to the North Carolina sports betting scene when it launches, which will reportedly come in time for March Madness which begins March 19.

Under North Carolina law, hopeful best sports betting apps in the state are required to partner with a professional sports league, franchise, or venue to be considered for a license to operate.

“DraftKings and NASCAR have collaborated closely with each other over the years, sharing a like-minded commitment to enhancing the fan experience,” said Matt Kalish, president of DraftKings North America. “We look forward to the next chapter in our journey together and offering our leading mobile sportsbook to fans in the state of North Carolina.”

North Carolina is poised to become DraftKings' 27th North American legal sports betting jurisdiction.

Only a matter of time

DraftKings is the sixth of seven licensed North Carolina sports betting apps to sign a mandated partnership, and it follows BetMGM's recent deal. The sportsbook already had approval from regulators but was missing the necessary partnership.

The list of sportsbooks and their partnerships now include:

bet365 with the Charlotte Hornets
BetMGM with Charlotte Motor Speedway
DraftKings with NASCAR
Fanatics Betting and Gaming with the Carolina Hurricanes
FanDuel with the PGA Tour
PENN Sports Interactive (ESPN BET) with the Quail Hollow Club

That leaves just Underdog as the only one of the seven best sports betting sites to not have a required partnership deal in North Carolina ahead of the expected launch in March.

Caesars is not yet mentioned as a possible North Carolina sports betting app. It is expected to be named as a provider, though, thanks to its well-established retail sports betting presence in conjunction with the state's tribal casinos.

Building on a relationship

DraftKings and NASCAR are a natural fit for a partnership in the North Carolina market. As mentioned previously, the companies have worked closely over the years to enrich the NASCAR fan experience.

DraftKings is already an Authorized Gaming Operator of NASCAR and is the organization's exclusive daily fantasy sports partner.

As Joe Solosky, NASCAR managing director of sports betting, said: “DraftKings has a proven track record of enhancing the fan experience across sports. We are thrilled to continue working with DraftKings to deliver NASCAR fans more engagement opportunities and bring its leading mobile sportsbook to North Carolina.”

Written By:
James Bisson

James Bisson is the Editor-in-Chief of Sportsbook Review. He has been a writer, reporter and editor for more than 20 years, including a nine-year stint with The Canadian Press and more than five years at theScore. He has covered dozens of marquee events including the 2010 Winter Olympics, the 2006 Stanley Cup final and Wrestlemania 23, and his work has appeared in more than 200 publications, including the Los Angeles Times, the Guardian, Yahoo! Sports, the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail. His book, “100 Greatest Canadian Sports Moments”, was a hardcover best-seller in Canada in 2008 and earned him appearances on CBC Radio and Canada AM. He has written more than 50 sportsbook reviews, more than 200 industry news articles and dozens of other sportsbook-related content articles. A graduate of the broadcast journalism program at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University), James has been an avid bettor since the early 2000s, and cites bet365 as his favorite sports betting site due to its superior functionality and quick payouts. His favorite piece of sports betting advice: "Stay in your lane. You're much more likely to have success betting sports you know, and focusing on finding angles and edges there."