Senate Bill 688: Sports Wagering Summary

• Authorizes 10-12 interactive sports wagering operators licensed by the North Carolina State Lottery Commission to offer online and mobile sports betting on professional sports, college sports, amateur sports, and electronic sports.

• Imposes an 8% tax on adjusted gross revenue from sports wagers, with 50% of tax revenue directed to the North Carolina Major Events, Games, and Attractions Fund and $1 million annually transferred to gambling addiction treatment programs.

• Requires operators to implement age verification (minimum 21 years), geolocation technology to ensure in-state wagering, and prohibits wagering on youth sports, injuries, penalties, and disciplinary proceedings.

• Establishes licensing requirements for interactive sports wagering operators ($500,000 fee), service providers ($25,000 fee), and sports wagering suppliers ($15,000 fee), including background investigations and criminal history checks.

• Creates a voluntary exclusion program allowing individuals to self-exclude from sports wagering and establishes criminal penalties including Class 2 misdemeanors for unlicensed wagering and Class G felonies for match-fixing conspiracies.