The Charlotte Hornets Friday afternoon became the first North Carolina professional sports team to partner with a sportsbook ahead of a planned 2024 go-live for wagering in the state. The deal with U.K.-based bet365 is for digital betting only, though the company is now able to have signage and branding at the Spectrum Center, on the Hornets’ digital app and social media platforms, and on radio and television broadcasts.
The partnership is the fifth with a major professional U.S. sports team for bet365. As part of the new change through the state budget earlier this fall now requires that operators be tethered.
North Carolina has one NBA team, one NFL team (Panthers), one NHL team (Hurricanes), one Major League Soccer team (Charlotte FC), and one National Women’s Soccer League team (North Carolina Courage). Golf courses around the state will host three PGA Tour events in 2024, and Charlotte Motor Speedway hosts NASCAR races.
Hornets second NBA team for Bet365 3y5o13
Bet365 began advertising at the Spectrum Center Friday night during the Hornets’ game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
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
“We are excited to announce this partnership with bet365,” Hornets Sports & Entertainment Chief Revenue Officer Jacob Gallagher said via press release. “Since the day Governor Cooper signed sports wagering into law at Spectrum Center in June, we sought a partner that would help us provide our fans with new, additional opportunities to engage with their favorite sports teams. We are confident that bet365 is a great fit with our organization and can help us do that.”
Bet365 is also partnered with the NFL’s Washington Commanders, the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, and Major League Baseball’s Colorado Rockies and Cleveland Guardians.
Lawmakers legalized digital sports betting, via would not launch any earlier than Jan. 8, 2024. State law requires they be live by mid-June. The application process has not opened yet.
