North Carolina Online Casinos and Gambling Sites
North Carolina is emerging as a top state for gambling services. Players can find sports betting, land-based casinos, lottery, and charitable gaming options.
Online casino gaming fits into a grey category, which can be confusing for players. Read our guide below to learn more about suitable and safe online casinos.
We cover all aspects of ND online gambling, so you know exactly where to find the best and safest services.
Gambling Highlights
The following table provides a snapshot of what forms of gambling are legal in North Carolina. From online casinos to land-based casinos and other forms of gambling such as state lottery.
Is Gambling Legal?
Yes
Legal Gambling Age
18 – 21
Land-Based Casinos
Yes
Online Casinos
Offshore only
Land-Based Sports Betting
Yes
Online Sportsbooks
Yes
Legal State Lottery
Yes
Charitable Gambling
Yes
Table of Contents
Everything You Need to Start Playing at NC Online Casinos
Is Online Gambling Legal in North Carolina?
Key Takeaways
- Online sports betting is now legal in NC.
- Sportsbooks are legal and regulated by the state.
- State residents use offshore sites to gamble.
- The state lottery also has online play.
Legal online gambling in North Carolina is beginning to take hold.
An internet sports betting bill was signed into law in 2023, and major sports wagering apps launched on March 11, 2024. There are now 8 licensed providers available.
Additionally, a few games on the state lottery website are available to play legally.
Online casino are another history. Legislators have shelved a proposal to bring online casinos to the state, making it technically illegal to operate one here.
For this reason, offshore sites are popular among NC residents. The law does not explicitly address them, so you can use these sites without fear of prosecution.
Best North Carolina Online Casinos in 2024
Explore these top real money online casinos we have tested and recommend for North Carolina residents. We chose them based on many elements of trustworthiness and enjoyment.
| RANK | CASINO | BONUS | PAYOUT SPEED | LICENSED | TOTAL GAMES | SLOTS | OUR RATING | CLICK TO PLAY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
DuckyLuck Casino |
BONUS 500% up to $7,500 | PAYOUT SPEED 1-5 Days | LICENSED Yes | TOTAL GAMES 749 | SLOTS 646 | OUR RATING 4 / 5 | Play Now |
| 2 |
Bovada Casino |
BONUS 125% up to $3,750 | PAYOUT SPEED 1-3 Days | LICENSED Yes | TOTAL GAMES 549 | SLOTS 435 | OUR RATING 4 / 5 | Play Now |
| 3 |
SlotsandCasino |
BONUS 500% up to $7,500 | PAYOUT SPEED 1-2 Days | LICENSED Yes | TOTAL GAMES 691 | SLOTS 594 | OUR RATING 3.9 / 5 | Play Now |
| 4 |
BetUS |
BONUS 150% up to $3,000 | PAYOUT SPEED 1-7 days | LICENSED Yes | TOTAL GAMES 491 | SLOTS 367 | OUR RATING 4.5 / 5 | Play Now |
| 5 |
Cafe Casino |
BONUS 350% up to $2,500 | PAYOUT SPEED 1-3 Days | LICENSED Yes | TOTAL GAMES 547 | SLOTS 384 | OUR RATING 3.5 / 5 | Play Now |
*Last Updated: December, 2024
Our Recommended Online Casinos Reviewed
We know North Carolinians love casino games for the excitement and good returns.
Here are some of the best online casinos NC folks can depend on for their lineups of fun games that pay well.
DuckyLuck – Best Casino for Slots
Duckyluck Casino is a top destination with plenty of fun activities, including a great collection of over 500 real money slots.
You will find all types of slots with various themes, high-paying features, and progressive jackpots.
Be assured of fair payouts because the slots are provided by top gamemakers such as Dragon Gaming or Betsoft.
✅ Top software providers mean fair payouts.
✅ Slots have a variety of features and include progressives.
✅ DuckyLuck has multiple versions of table games.
Top Features
- Duckyluck has a dozen video poker options.
- Excellent bonuses for new and recurring players.
- 95 – 98% Average RTP.
- Reliable payouts & banking methods.
Bovada – Top Site for Sports Betting
Dig around Bovada‘s site, which has tons of casino games and also offers sports betting options for North Carolinians.
If you want to get a trustworthy sportsbook that pays its players and accepts NC bettors, Bovada is definitely a great pick.
You can bet on sports like boxing, soccer, MMA, or even esports. Simply log in, and you will find an agile platform that allows you to place your bets easily.
✅ Bovada has been over 20 years in the online gambling industry and has a solid reputation among gamblers.
✅ They offer sports betting options and a wide variety of online casino games.
✅ The site gives live betting options and tools like props builder.
Top Features
- High-quality customer support.
- Reliable and user-friendly software.
- Quick payout process.
- Excellent Bonuses with low rollover.
How We Choose Online Casinos
We don’t just pick casinos randomly out of thin air …. or cyberspace. We consider several factors for the top online casinos in North Carolina. Here are some:
Online Casino Reputation
The online casinos we suggest are sites gamblers know. We check player forums and industry sources to determine a casino’s track record.Fast & Reliable Payments
We seek out online casinos with a variety of deposit methods that respond quickly and reliably for both incoming and outgoing transactions.Site Security & Safety
Online casinos that employ at least 128-bit secure socket layering meet our standards for keeping your information and money safe.Game Variety & Quality
We highly recommend sites that offer a wide variety of games, from slots to table games to video poker. We tend to prefer casinos that have live dealer games; it simply enhances the experience.Quality Bonuses
While we don’t usually claim bonuses ourselves, there are players looking for a good deal. We make sure to inform you of the bonuses offered at each casino, so you can decide if its a deal worth taking.
Top Online Casino Games for Real Money in North Carolina
Choose the right online casino; you will find all types of games perfect for North Carolina players.
Here, we describe the most popular titles you will see and how they play.
Online Slots
The primary game category for North Carolina residents is online slots, easily accessible with sorting options and search features.
Unlike land-based casinos in the state, online slots offer real money play with diverse features like free spins, cascading reels, and various wilds, along with innovative bonus rounds.
They also provide a broader range of betting limits per spin, from penny slots to high stakes, and feature at least five or ten progressive jackpot slots with winnings exceeding $1 million.
Online Poker
North Carolina has just one legal land-based poker room, but online poker sites offer a wide variety of games, including Texas Hold ’em with various limits, Omaha, Hi-Lo, and seven-card stud.
Online poker provides a range of stakes from beginner to high roller levels.
It also offers numerous tournaments, including high-stakes events and freerolls.
Online Blackjack
Real money blackjack is beloved for its simplicity and good returns, which you can enjoy from home when playing online.
Our recommended casinos match RTP with Tar Heel State’s land-based options.
Explore diverse blackjack variants with rewarding side bets, and try free demo games. Many sites offer live dealer sections for interactive play.
Live Dealer Games
Top online casinos offer a Harrah’s Cherokee-like experience without leaving your home through their live dealer sections. These sections use streaming technology to provide real dealer tables with interactive features, including chat.
You can find popular table games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, along with options like Wheel of Fortune. The stakes are higher in the live section, so prepare your bankroll and consider tipping the dealer.
Other Games Available
Top casino sites offer more than typical casino games. Here are some games that demonstrate the variety you can find:
North Carolina Casino Bonuses
Bonuses are big in Internet casinos, particularly if you like slots. You get bonus money with your deposit and must play through a required wagering amount to withdraw winnings.
Welcome Bonuses
Large introductory offers that nearly every online gambling site provides to new players.
Free Spin Offers
Promotional deals that give you a set number of free rounds on specific games.
Reload Deals
Get additional bonus cash when you deposit additional funds or top off your account.
Our Favorite Casino Bonuses at NC Sites
Explore our top picks bonuses for North Carolina players.
500% up to $7,500 + 150 free spins Welcome Bonus
DuckyLuck feathers your nest with a 500% match on each of three deposits of up to $2,500 each when you join the flock.
That adds up to $7,500 in free money. And DuckyLuck tosses in 50 free spins on each of three days with great slots they choose for you.
The DuckyLuck deal has a modest 30X rollover requirement on the deposit and bonus.
Up to $8,000 Welcome Bonus
You can receive as much as $8,000 in extra money when you enter the Red Dog pound and take full advantage of the welcome bonus.
It’s a tiered match of your first three deposits and comes with a 40x deposit playthrough plus the bonus amount.
Red Dog fetches the deal when you activate it with the PATIO bonus code.
Are There Any Casino Apps Available in NC?
North Carolina may offer apps if online casinos are set up in the state. But for now, you don’t need an app to easily access offshore casinos and games with your iPhone, Android smartphone, or e-tablet.
Just use your device’s internet browser to call up the site and play any game. If you are unsure how games play on your smartphone, try a mobile casino to play for free.
Facts About NC Online Casinos
Here are some facts about NC online casinos that you need to consider before playing.
- North Carolina residents have access to online casinos based offshore.
- Though regulated by foreign entities, most offshore casino sites accept players from the US.
- There is a broader variety of games with lower bet amounts at online casinos compared to the land-based casinos in North Carolina.
- A legislative proposal to base online casinos in North Carolina was shelved in 2023.
Gambling Laws Summary
Many gambling activities are illegal in North Carolina.
Three tribal casinos have taken up some slack with Vegas-type facilities, sportsbooks, and a poker room under federal regulation.
The state also has a lottery, limited-stakes bingo, and other charitable games in the law books. Online sportsbooks and racebooks were made legal in 2023, and in-state online casinos have been proposed.
Until the actual in-state launch, NC residents do their online gambling at offshore sites.
| North Carolina Gambling | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Land-Based Casinos in North Carolina | The state is home to three casinos, all owned and operated by Native American tribes. They offer slots and table games. |
| Online Gambling | North Carolinians have access to offshore internet casinos and sportsbooks |
| Online Sports Betting and Land-Based | Online sports betting has been legalized, and major sports wagering apps launched on March 11, 2024. The state’s three land-based casinos also host retail sportsbooks. |
| State Lottery | North Carolina has a state-sponsored lottery with numbers games and instant win games. It coordinates with nationwide drawings. |
| Charitable Gambling | Qualified charities are allowed to run bingo games and raffles. |
| Poker | The state hosts one legal poker room at the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino. Poker is otherwise illegal. |
| Horse & Dog Racing | There are no pari-mutuel betting horse or dog tracks in the state. Online racebooks are legal, but none have been launched. Additionally, none of the state’s three casinos have a racebook, although they could if they chose to. |
| Fantasy Sports | Daily fantasy sports contests are not addressed in NC law, and fantasy sites are available to residents. |
| Social Gambling | Betting on any game is considered illegal, which includes even the smallest stakes games. |
| Taxes on Gambling Winnings | Gambling winnings are taxable in North Carolina. |
North Carolina Gambling Laws: A Deep Dive
Folks in the Tar Heel State have always gambled. Generally, the law hasn’t played along until the last few decades when the federal government allowed casinos on tribal land.
Below is a closer look at how the law approaches different types of gambling in North Carolina.
Land-Based Casinos
North Carolina is home to three land-based casinos, all owned and operated by Native American tribes.
Under provisions of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, the tribes enter and renew compacts with the state’s governor to determine the types of games they offer. Otherwise, the tribal casinos are federally regulated.
Two of the casinos are resort casinos offering slots and live table games. A third casino offers slots and electronic table games.
All three of the operations host sportsbooks. Legislators have proposed authorization of four more land-based casinos in the eastern part of the state, but the plan did not get budget approval in 2023.
Horse & Dog Tracks
North Carolina has no pari-mutuel horse tracks.
In 2021, legislators offered a proposal to establish a state racing commission to “determine the appropriate location and number of tracks,” but the plan never got out of committee.
The state’s new online sports betting law includes internet racebooks. However, none have been launched yet, and none of the state’s three casinos have a racebook, although they could if they chose to.
North Carolina has several famous thoroughbred steeplechase races, but none allow legal betting. Greyhound racetracks were ruled illegal in the 1950s.
North Carolina has several famous thoroughbred steeplechase races, but none allow legal betting. Greyhound racetracks were ruled illegal in the 1950s.
Bingo, Lottery and Charitable Gambling
Bingo has been popular in the Tar Heel State for decades, first sponsored by charitable groups and later high-stakes games hosted by the Cherokee Tribe.
More than 150 charitable bingo halls are located throughout North Carolina.
Licensed by the state, these operations can hold up to two sessions per week and offer prizes no higher than $500.
Cherokee Tribal Bingo, the last high-stakes bingo operation, closed in 2021 during the COVID pandemic and had no plans of reopening.
Nonprofits can also hold up to four raffles per year, offering cash prizes of no more than $125,000 or merchandise worth up to $250,000. Land and buildings valued at up to $500,000 may also be raffled yearly.
North Carolina has sponsored a lottery since 2006, and its proceeds have raised nearly $10 billion for public education.
The games include typical numbers tickets, scratch cards, keno, and other instant-win games. The NC Lottery is part of the nationwide Powerball and Mega Millions pool.
Social Gaming at Home
North Carolina law does not specifically address small-stakes games at home. So, the provision stating that it is illegal to “play or bet on any game of chance that involves winning money, property or anything of value” presumably applies.
The legal exceptions are drawn out in the gambling statute, but a home games like poker is not one of them.
Like gambling online, small-stakes games occur, and violations are practically unenforceable.
Poker Rooms and Clubs
There is only one legal land-based poker room in the Tar Heel State – Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, west of Asheville.
Professional players know this place because the casino hosts major events on the World Series of Poker tour.
The poker room has 32 tables and hosts cash games of Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Hi-Lo Omaha, and 7-card stud.
Blinds start at $1, and you can find fixed-limit hold ’em games.
The house charges a percentage rake that depends on the pot size of the game. Harrah’s also hosts daily tournaments with buy-in fees that range from $80 to $250.
Sports Betting
North Carolina made online sports betting legal in 2023, and major sportsbooks launched on March 11, 2024.
The state Lottery Commission licenses and regulates sportsbooks and betting kiosks located in major professional sports stadiums, arenas, and golf courses that host pro tournaments.
Horse racing betting with online racebooks is also allowed, although none have been launched yet.
Video Gaming Machines
Since the 1990s, North Carolina courts and the General Assembly have been trying to deal with the legality of video gambling machines that pop up periodically at convenience stores, smoke shops, and parlors.
The legislature has limited or made them illegal with laws passed in 2000, 2007, and 2010. But game makers and machine owners have managed to circumvent the law by tweaking the machines and how payouts work.
In 2024, gambling machines were still located throughout the state, and a bill was proposed to regulate them.
Land-Based Casinos in North Carolina
The Cherokee and Catawba tribes own the three land-based casinos in the state, but they do not operate them. Caesars operates the two Cherokee casinos, while Delaware North operates the Catawba casino.
All of these casinos host slots and sportsbooks. As of today, the only one with no table games is Catawba Two Kings.
The Cherokee casinos are located in the North Carolina mountains west of Asheville. The Catawba one is near Charlotte.
Top Gambling Venues
- Harrah’s Cherokee Hotel & Casino Resort
- Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Hotel & Casino
- Catawba Two Kings Casino
Summary
- Total Casinos: 3
- Poker Rooms: 2 (In both Cherokee’s Casinos)
North Carolina Gambling vs. Neighboring States
Here is how the North Carolina gambling landscape compares with its bordering neighbors.
| State | Is some form of Gambling Legal? | Legal Gambling Age | Legal Land-Based Casinos | Playing at Online Casinos | Legal Sports Betting | Legal State Lottery | Charitable Gaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | Yes | 18 – 21 | Yes | Offshore Only | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| South Carolina | Yes | 18 | No | Offshore Only | Offshore Only | Yes | Yes |
| Virginia | Yes | 18 – 21 | Yes | Offshore Only | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tennessee | Yes | 18 – 21 | No | Offshore Only | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Georgia | Yes | 18 | No | Offshore Only | Offshore Only | Yes | Yes |
North Carolina has adjusted its gambling laws primarily to compete with Virginia, which has attracted Tar Heel wagerers for years.
However, the locations of North Carolina’s three land-based casinos make them popular destinations for people in northern Georgia, South Carolina, and eastern Tennessee.
A Brief History of North Carolina Gambling
North Carolinians have gambled since the Colonial days, and the law has always scrambled to catch up.
In 1749, the General Assembly passed laws preventing excessive gambling debts. But most forms of gambling were illegal, except for occasional lotteries allowed to sponsor public projects.
Modern-day gambling began with the authorization of pari-mutuel race betting in 1939. Two dog tracks were open during the 1940s and ’50s before the state supreme court ruled them illegal.
In the mid-1940s, some counties approved bingo laws for charities and civic groups. The game spread to beach towns where it was largely unregulated.
The state passed bingo and raffle laws to control charitable gaming in the 1970s and ’80s.
The Cherokee Tribe opened a high-stakes bingo operation in 1982 after a federal court ruled that state laws limiting winnings didn’t apply on tribal lands.
Then, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 allowed tribes to open other gambling operations through compacts with states.
The Cherokee have since opened two casinos west of Asheville, and the Catawba Tribe has a casino near Charlotte. A state law approved in 2019 allowed the tribal casinos to add sportsbooks.
The General Assembly barely approved a lottery measure in 2005 and sold the first tickets in 2006.
In 2023, the state took a significant step in internet wagering with a new law allowing commercial sportsbooks online and at major sports arenas. The sportsbooks launched on March 11, 2024.
North Carolina Responsible Gambling Initiatives
The North Carolina Problem Gambling Program offers prevention, treatment, and recovery services and promotes other problem gambling resources.
The NC Lottery website has a Play Smart section with a spending calculator and tips on responsible gambling.
In addition, the North Carolina Council on Problem Gambling helps compulsive gamblers find help through counseling and training.
The Cherokee Tribe and their casinos are corporate sponsors of the program and display a Responsible Gambling message on their casino webpage.
Play Safely, Stay Informed, and Have Fun!
North Carolina law has traditionally been resistant to gambling. But in the last two decades, the state has introduced land-based casinos, sportsbooks, and a lottery. Now, online sports betting and horse track wagering are legal, too.
Lawmakers are seeking to expand the number of land casinos from three to seven, and a proposal is in the works for building pari-mutuel horse tracks.
How all of this bodes for online casinos is hard to say. But if internet sports betting significantly impacts state coffers, a current proposal to legalize online casinos will get a serious look.
There are seven states that now host online casinos. We wouldn’t be surprised to see the Tar Heel State follow suit within the decade.
Meanwhile, NC residents have access to top online casinos at offshore sites.
FAQ
Common questions and answers about gambling in North Carolina may help you.
How do tribal casinos differ from commercial casinos in North Carolina?
The federal government regulates tribal casinos. If proposed commercial casinos are approved, the state will control them.
Are there real money online casinos in North Carolina with no deposit bonuses?
Most real money online casinos require a deposit to get a bonus. But they sometimes promote games with no deposit free spins bonuses and other no deposit bonuses for special events.
Who regulates online casinos in North Carolina?
The online casinos that North Carolinians can access are licensed in foreign jurisdictions that meet the requirements of conventional payment systems.
