The launch of online sports gambling in North Carolina is accelerating.
A seasoned gaming professional with experience in massachusetts sports betting regulation will join the NC Lottery Commission staff to lead the gaming and sports betting compliance department.
It’s been announced that Sterl Carpenter, with over 30 years experience in the gaming industry, has joined the committee in a new position: Executive Vice President of Gaming Compliance and Sports Betting. Carpenter’s first day on the job was August 2.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper on June 14 signed House Bill 347 into law to legalize new forms of gambling in the state.
Bipartisan legislation authorizes online betting on professional, college and amateur sports, and horse racing in North Carolina. The state’s first online sportsbooks are expected to launch in the first half of 2024. Currently, North Carolina only has retail sports betting in tribal casinos. The new law makes the state 28th in the nation for online sports betting, with eight other states having only retail betting.
In this role, Carpenter will be responsible for developing, implementing and managing a compliance framework to regulate sports betting activities.
By law, the North Carolina State Lottery Commission regulates sports betting and will be responsible for issuing licenses and collecting license application fees. The licenses will be valid for five years, and the types of licenses include interactive sports betting licenses, service provider licenses, and sports betting supplier licenses.
For the past eight years, Carpenter has served on the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, most recently serving as director of sports betting operations and before that as director of regulatory compliance.
“After extensive research, we have selected an experienced professional to work in the newly created role of Executive Deputy Director of Compliance for Games and Sports Betting,” said Mark Michalko, Executive Director of NC Education Lottery. “Carpenter has experience with all aspects of regulations and licensing as well as compliance. We are thrilled to have someone with Carpenter’s experience and expertise lead this new gaming program in our state.”
