The dance cards are about to be filled in North Carolina, where sportsbooks had to go through the state’s five pro teams, two speedways, NASCAR, the PGA Tour and two Tour event hosts for access to licenses.
Three of those have been announced. The Hornets landed what sources say almost certainly will be the most lucrative access/sponsor deal in the state, locking down global giant Bet365. Quail Hollow hooked up with Penn Entertainment-owned ESPN Bet in a deal that also included an exclusive sponsorship. And the PGA Tour aligned with FanDuel in a deal that only includes market access.
[December 14], Fanatics confirmed that it will enter through an access agreement with the Hurricanes. Fanatics would not discuss specifics of any sponsor components, though industry insiders said one was likely.
The three motorsports properties also have agreed to market access pairings, according to industry sources, with DraftKings entering through NASCAR, while BetMGM and Betway go in via deals with Speedway Motorsports’ tracks (Charlotte Motor Speedway and North Wilkesboro, respectively). All either declined comment or did not respond to questions.