The NBA‘s Charlotte Hornets have announced a strategic partnership with bet365, a global giant in online sports betting. This collaboration positions bet365 as the official mobile betting provider for the team, as revealed in a press release on Friday.
We are proud to announce an exclusive long-term partnership with @bet365_us, becoming the Official Mobile Sports Betting Partner of the Charlotte Hornets.
Read more about this exciting new partnership: https://t.co/1zi6zylwcD pic.twitter.com/Pc4Lpn0nfW
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) November 17, 2023
This announcement follows the signing of a bill by Governor Roy Cooper at the Spectrum Center in June, legalizing sports betting in North Carolina. Jacob Gallagher, the Hornets‘ Revenue Director, highlighted that the search for a suitable betting partner began immediately after the law was enacted.
The partnership’s activation is pending until bet365 receives a license to operate in the state, with the legislation for online sports betting expected to be implemented on January 8. The association will allow the company to have a presence at the Spectrum Center, on the Hornets’ website, social media platforms, the team’s mobile app, and in game broadcasts on television and radio.
Operating in 78 sports and offering over 78,000 live streams, bet365 serves 90 million global customers and employs more than 7,000 people internationally.
The new legislation enables individuals aged 21 and over to bet on professional and college sports in North Carolina, both online and in-person, at locations near eight of the state’s professional sports facilities. These locations include Bank of America Stadium, Spectrum Center, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Quail Hollow in Charlotte, as well as PNC Arena in Raleigh, WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Wilkesboro Speedway, and Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro. Up to 12 online sports betting apps and websites will be allowed to operate.
With this partnership, the Charlotte Hornets become the fifth professional sports franchise in the U.S. to establish an agreement with bet365, joining names like the Washington Commanders, Colorado Rockies, Cleveland Guardians, and San Antonio Spurs.
With plans to expand its operations, already established in states such as Colorado, Ohio, Kentucky, New Jersey, Virginia, and Iowa, bet365 is one of the first sports betting houses to be licensed in North Carolina.
The process of licensing and regulating sports betting in North Carolina is ongoing. The North Carolina Lottery Commission indicated that implementation might not be ready until January 8, aiming to activate the system by June 15, 2024.