CHARLOTTE — Now that online gambling is legal in North Carolina, teams across the Tar Heel state are maneuvering the unexplored landscape with new partnerships.
The Charlotte Hornets announced an exclusive long-term partnership with bet365 to let fans gamble on games right from their phones.
This makes the NBA team the first professional sports team in North Carolina to form a partnership of this sort.
“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,” said Hornets Sports & Entertainment Chief Revenue Officer Jacob Gallagher.
[ READ MORE: Mobile sports betting won’t launch in NC on Jan. 8, officials say ]
In order to operate in North Carolina, bet365 and other betting companies must be approved for a license. To gain approval, the company must have a partnership in place.
Britain-based bet365 will be one of the NBA franchise’s seven major sponsors. The agreement takes effect immediately.
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