A bill has been filed by a group of North Carolina senators that would see sports betting being legal in the state and which could be earmarked revenue to pay for education expenses and construction of schools in the state.
There are two tribal casinos in the state to place sports bets on or partake in casino games, both of which went live with William Hill sportsbooks ahead of March Madness.
Should the bill (SB 688) be passed, bettors will have the opportunity to gamble on amateur collage, electronic and professional sports with other events also allowed on condition it is approved by the North Carolina Education Lottery Commission.
Daily Fantasy Sports Betting is permitted in the state via sites such as DraftKings and FanDuel, which are two of the most popular platforms.
North Carolina law requires patrons to be 21 years of age and older, although several online betting sites allow some as young as 18 to register for an account.
Sports wagering operator applicants are required to submit a form from the Commission and pay a licensing fee of $500,000 which will be refunded, minus expenses incurred, if the application is denied.
The bill will also enable bettors to wager bets using cryptocurrency and other digital/virtual currencies, among other traditional forms of payment such as cash or debit/credit card.
According to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, approximately 30 percent of lottery revenue goes to education.
The net proceeds of the North Carolina Education Lottery go to education expenses that include reduced class size in early grades, school construction, pre-kindergarten programs and scholarships for needy college and university students.