North Carolina Online Casinos

The undisputed truth of the matter, which both the optimists and the pessimists agree upon, is that the subject of online gambling in North Carolina isn’t going to see the light of day anytime soon. The prospect of North Carolina online casinos isn’t one to become a reality in the next couple of years at least, even if the trend of legalizing USA casino websites is slowly and steadily starting to create waves across the country.

flagBest North Carolina Online Casino Sites

Casino Bonus Website Rating Features Deposit
1$2000Play Now
162 voted
Review
  • 200% up to $2000
  • Great everyday bonuses and promotions
  • Reliable security technologies
  • MasterCard Casinos
  • Visa Casinos
  • skrill
  • Neteller logo
  • 200% up to $2000
  • Great everyday bonuses and promotions
  • Reliable security technologies
  • MasterCard Casinos
  • Visa Casinos
  • skrill
  • Neteller logo
2$12250Play Now
126 voted
Review
  • Visa Casinos
  • MasterCard Casinos
  • Visa Casinos
  • MasterCard Casinos
3$12000Play Now
174 voted
Review
  • Visa Casinos
  • MasterCard Casinos
  • Visa Casinos
  • MasterCard Casinos
4$2500Play Now
341 voted
Review
  • Neteller logo
5$1000Play Now
187 voted
Review
  • Visa Casinos
  • MasterCard Casinos
  • Visa Casinos
  • MasterCard Casinos
6$7777Play Now
268 voted
Review
  • Neteller logo
  • Neteller logo
7$3000Play Now
404 voted
Review
8$800Play Now
330 voted
Review
  • Neteller logo
  • Neteller logo
9$4000Play Now
354 voted
Review
  • Neteller logo
  • Neteller logo
10$5000Play Now
230 voted
Review
  • MasterCard Casinos
  • Visa Casinos
  • MasterCard Casinos
  • Visa Casinos

North Carolina Gambling Laws

Although the country is in a continuous state of turmoil regarding the latest changes which directly affect the expansion of gambling throughout states, for this conservative place, it’s still natural to wonder: is gambling legal in North Carolina? As a general rule for the southern, more conservatory states, the phenomenon of gambling is still regarded with suspicion. And the field of casinos in North Carolina makes no exception to that general rule.

The Permitted Expansion

The North Carolina gambling laws are strictly oriented against this activity, but unlike other states in the region, take on to enforcing mild punishments for those not following the rules. An eloquent example sees the North Carolina gambling age restricted at a minimum of 21 for casinos, 18 for lottery tickets, and none at all in the case of bingo games.

Also, although the stance has remained one against gambling, in the last decade or so, the wind of change started to sweep across this conservatory state as well. After the narrow vote for a state lottery in 2006, the most significant change was that one of the Cherokee NC bingo halls became a full-fledged casino owned by the Cherokee Nation and administered by Harrah’s. Until 2012 the best games to play at Harrah’s Cherokee were limited to slots and electronic poker. Afterward, hoping for more tax revenues, the compact between the tribe of Cherokee and the state’s authorities was renegotiated to allow:

  • Live dealers gaming
  • More types of games, being the first possibility for playing blackjack NC
  • Up to other two gambling establishments to be built state-wide

The year 2015 meant the grand opening of the second tribal venue near Murphy, making it two Indian casinos in North Carolina. Although situated in the extreme corner of the state, this is the privileged location out of the two North Carolina casinos, being set on the border with Georgia’s much more restrictive state, thus benefiting from the influx of Georgians.

Furthermore, the list of casinos in North Carolina is soon to be enlarged because of a new compact being signed with Catawba Nation, which is bound to improve the stage of gambling in Charlotte, NC. This new establishment would add to the expansion of gaming in this state, with more slots, table games. There are still some options unavailable, such as off-track betting, but Charlotte, NC, is sure to reach a spike in the field of wagering.

The Frowned Upon Gaming Options

Enforcing the NC gambling laws has been taken very seriously by the state’s authorities, as it can be seen in the following examples:

  • Fish tables became the trend in gambling in North Carolina for a couple of years. It grew on people’s interests as wildfire, and the explanation behind it was simple. For example, the lack of casinos near Fayetteville, NC, had to be compensated by something, and this game of skill and chance was just in the right time and place. However, they got on the authorities bad side, and in 2018 they were taken outside the law, forcing their closure.
  • Sweepstakes cafes were another local phenomenon that caught wings in the latter years. The same reasons for no option for casinos near Raleigh, North Carolina, made gambling enthusiasts jump at any occasion to exercise their luck. After one of these locations was robbed at gunpoint, the already skeptical authorities saw an opportunity to ban them. As a result, in October 2018, all of these gambling locations were closed for good.
  • The subject of North Carolina sports betting hasn’t been touched just yet in public debates, even though the federal ban has been lifted.

North Carolina Online Gambling

Not that many things to say about online gambling in North Carolina, as well. In a state where the struggle goes for opening new land-based NC casinos, we might consider that the road towards the expansion of gambling in NC is still at the beginning, with a long way to go, the online market being at the end of it.

However, although no online casinos NC-based are happening in the foreseeable future, the online market exists in the same gray area we have become accustomed to around the US states. Off-shore online casinos like RTG casinos 2020, which operate under legal licenses from jurisdictions around the world, are OK with players from the NC state. Seeing how the options of casinos near North Carolina are limited, the online versions present an undeniable attraction. The only thing left is to choose carefully the online sites to use. Perhaps, looking at the already reviewed online casinos from the list above might give users a sense of what they should be looking for. To specify, we can highly recommend Bovada Casino. Bovada is legal in North Carolina and is considered one of the most reputable USA online casinos.

Bovada Casino Review
Bovada casino
Play Now

Offline Gambling

Casinos

If not for playing slots at Harrah’s Cherokee in any two establishments, there aren’t that many options for miles around. Even if there only exists two casinos in North Carolina, residents from neighboring states, with even fewer options, bring their money to them.

Bingo

The far less restrictive NC bingo laws have made this charitable game a real hit statewide, with more than one Cherokee bingo hall spread across the state. Imagine the magnitude, the Tribal Bingo in Cherokee, North Carolina, is the largest, with 1100 seats.
The lack of casinos in Jacksonville, NC, or the fact that residents can’t enjoy the fun and games that a regular casino in Greenville, NC, might have offered, has led to the birth of the so-called beach bingo.

Lottery

Gambling in North Carolina couldn’t have been complete without the existence of a state’s lottery. The struggle to impose it was finished late in 2006 when the first lottery ticket was sold.

Options Nearby

The states in this part of the country share the same aversion against gambling, online or not, meaning there are not many casinos near North Carolina. South Carolina can offer an option with its Big M Casino cruises near Myrtle Beach. These are the closest casino to Wilmington, NC, but not quite an option for the most significant part of the state. For instance, for residents in Raleigh, NC, casinos find themselves at the approximately same distance, of about 170 miles, regardless if it’s the Harrah’s Cherokee or the Big M based in SC.

You Might Also be Interested in:

South Carolina state online casinos
Tennessee online gambling
VA online casinos

FAQ
Is gambling legal in North Carolina?

Yes, but North Carolina gambling laws limit the options a lot. The most widely spread is the Cherokee bingo in North Carolina, while enjoying table games or slot machines is only possible on the premises of the two North Carolina casinos. As far as other forms of gambling go, North Carolina sports betting or online options, no such thing is considered.

Are there online casinos NC based, which can be safely played in?

The subject is taboo, with North Carolina online casinos being on the stage of nothing more than a wild dream. For the moment, the field of North Carolina gambling’s main struggles sees negotiating a new compact with an Indian Nation for a third gambling venue to be opened inside the state. Online is a couple of steps further along the way.

What is the minimum gambling age in NC?

The North Carolina gambling age differs on the type of game that is to be played. For any casino in NC, players need to be 21. Only 18 for buying lottery tickets, while no minimum age is required for playing Tribal Bingo in Cherokee, North Carolina.

Can I withdraw my earned money from the off-shore online sites?

Having USA casino websites would have made it much easier and much safer for players to address the jurisdiction that has issued the license in case of malpractice. However, given a large number of options, the activity of online casinos is based a lot on their good name, and word travels fast if something is off. Until an online casino in NC is opened, prevention is still the best weapon against scammers, so only play on online websites reviewed before and proven fair and secure.

Are there any new developments happening any time soon as far as NC casinos go?
There is an interest in opening a casino in Raleigh, NC, but thus far, nothing moved in that direction. There is a new venue to be opened in Charlotte, which, as far as casinos near Jacksonville, NC go, it’s the best the state can allow so far. This soon-to-be venue takes the number of Indian casinos in North Carolina up to three. And this seems to be the extent to which the North Carolina gambling market is prepared for at this moment.