Underdog Sports Announces North Carolina Sports Betting Partner

Oct 1, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) reacts in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY SportsUnderdog Sports announced a partnership with McConnell Golf as part of its North Carolina sports betting applicationMcConnell Golf owns and operates Sedgefield Country ClubSedgefield Country Club is a private club located in Greensboro and host of the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship

Underdog Sports has named its North Carolina sports betting partner.

The daily fantasy sports and sports betting operator today announced a partnership with McConnell Golf as part of its application for a sports betting license in North Carolina. McConnell Golf owns and operates Sedgefield Country Club, a private golf club, located in Greensboro and hosts the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship.

Each sports betting applicant is required by the state to partner with either a North Carolina sports franchise, arena, NASCAR track, or PGA Tour course to be eligible for a license.

Nine Applicants for North Carolina Sports Betting

Underdog Sports was the final applicant to announce its sports betting partner.

“Underdog is thrilled to launch our betting games in North Carolina in partnership with McConnell Golf,” said Jeremy Levine, founder and co-CEO of Underdog Sports, in a press release. “We’ve spent the last four years building our own technology so we can give sports fans in America new and different ways to enjoy the sports they love. We’re excited to be able to offer that to North Carolinians and look forward to evolving the experience with them.”

Underdog Sports, which currently specializes in DFS offerings throughout the country, will likely launch its first online sportsbook in North Carolina pending regulatory approval.

McConnell Golf COO Christian Anastasiadis noted that it was important for the company to find the right sports betting partner to provide a different approach to sports competitions and tournaments in the state.

“We too believe in thinking differently and challenging the status quo, and there is a lot of star power behind the Underdog Fantasy app,” Anastasiadis said. “I truly believe we found the right partner.”

The remaining sports betting applicants and their market access partnerships are as follows:

DraftKings North Carolina NASCARFanDuel North Carolina PGA Tourbet365 North Carolina Charlotte HornetsESPN Bet North Carolina Quail Hollow Club (PGA Tour course)BetMGM North Carolina Charlotte Motor SpeedwayCaesars North Carolina TBDFanatics Betting and Gaming: Carolina Hurricanes

The Catawba Two Kings Casino and Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise Cherokee have also applied for a sports betting license in the Tar Heel State. Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise Cherokee will likely partner with Caesars Sportsbook to run its sports betting if it receives a license.

Will North Carolina Launch Date Be Announced Soon?

All eyes are now on the North Carolina Lottery Commission and when it will announce a start date for online sports betting.

One item on tomorrow’s North Carolina Lottery Commission meeting agenda could be a start-date announcement, as many are choosing to believe. The agenda features one action item, “Sports Wagering Authorization,” with no other details on what the item will be.

The North Carolina Lottery Commission will meet on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 10 a.m.

One of the action items on the agenda is simply labeled "Sports Wagering Authorization." 👀

Perhaps we'll get a better idea of a sports betting launch date for the Tar Heel State? pic.twitter.com/tWeJ576jok

— RLinnehanXL (@RLinnehanXl) January 22, 2024

Sterl Carpenter, Deputy Executive Director Gaming Compliance and Sports Betting for the Lottery Commission, has revealed in the last several meetings that the launch date now depends firmly on the applicants and their ability to submit necessary information to the commission.

Applicants will have to obtain their certificates of compliance from the commission before a launch date can be announced. The Lottery Commission set a deadline of Friday, Jan. 26, for the applicants to submit their internal controls, a key part of obtaining the certificate of compliance.

The quicker the operators receive their certificates of compliance, the quicker online sports betting can begin in North Carolina. Carpenter noted that each of the applicants are well aware of this part of the process from becoming licensed in other states and have all likely started working on the necessary requirements.