North Carolina Online Casinos

best north carolina online casinos

North Carolina is another state that is slowly edging towards regulated online gambling, with the topic now broached publicly, but no momentum to see it through in 2024. As a result, online casinos in North Carolina for real money are still off-limits for players and so are several other activities.

A silver lining is that players still may enjoy games of chance through social and sweepstakes casinos if they can accept that they won’t play for real money in the first place. The only alternative that players now have in the state is to play at offshore casino sites.

These, however, come with several challenges and difficulties, not to mention risks to your financial and private data. If you are determined to try real money online casinos in North Carolina, we can explain the dangers you face, as well as some of the opportunities.

Best North Carolina Online Casinos

1
371 players claimed the offer this month
100% up to $5000
2
322 players claimed the offer this month
100% up to $3,000
3
342 players claimed the offer this month
100% up to $3000
4
298 players claimed the offer this month
350% up to $2500
5
334 players claimed the offer this month
200% up to $2000

To pick an online casino for real money in North Carolina is not an easy undertaking, as no operator is actually regulated. This means that whatever websites may offer real money gambling would be located offshore, which makes the experience increasingly difficult.

You cannot transact your money quickly, the cash-out limits are usually tight, and you additionally run the risk of sharing your private data with third parties that are not beholden to any state authority.

This being said, there are still some offshore casinos that try to maintain a good industry standard when it comes to player safety and security. The websites we have listed on our table are known to local players in North Carolina and they offer a variety of games, bonuses, and payment options that live up to a certain standard.

The websites listed in the table are still based offshore and they do not hold a legal right to run their products in North Carolina. This begs the question of their legality, which we will address in the following section.

No, online casinos are not legal in North Carolina and this is not going to change in 2024. The only legal form of casino play you can explore is the one provided by social and sweepstakes casinos, but they do not pay real money.

North Carolina does offer sports betting, however, which means that the state has some experience with passing challenging pieces of legislation and creating a vibrant local ecosystem when it comes to online gambling.

Casinos though are still a bit of a taboo topic, with no draft law proposed during the most recent session, although lawmakers are not openly opposed to the issue per se. It feels like North Carolina is waiting to take its cue from other states.

Maryland has recently had a near-miss with iGaming regulation, but other states are discussing it openly. In other words, there is no reason not to believe that North Carolina can step into 2025 with the determination to expand online casino gambling.

As to the legality of players who participate in online gambling, in theory, North Carolina would treat this as a misdemeanor. However, the fact remains that no player has been arrested or prosecuted for simply registering at an offshore casino.

The greater danger still is for players to lose their money playing at offshore casino sites that do not necessarily come with all the necessary safeguards.

How to Pick an Online Casino in North Carolina

Picking an online casino for real money in North Carolina can be challenging, especially when you cannot trust a central regulatory authority to have vetted and guaranteed the safety of the casinos. Here are several criteria we use to help us navigate this challenging field and find what the best real money casinos in NC are.

Customer Support

Customer support plays a huge role in determining if you want to play at a certain casino. For the most part, customers are used to not contacting the support line, but when they do, they immediately realize how important it is to have good communication with the online casino. We meticulously examine the support service offered by any casino that caters to North Carolina online players.

Games and Software

The variety of games and good software is important for overall player satisfaction and experience. We look for casinos that have a good variety of game genres and make sure that they offer them in a reliable and easily accessible manner.

Promotions and Bonuses

By taking a moment to read into the bonus terms and conditions you can easily find out a few things about the casino. For starters, are they really offering fair terms? We read into the fine print to determine if the bonuses are indeed helpful and base our overall rating for a casino on this condition as well as others.

Reputation and License

It’s important to remember that North Carolina online casinos for real money cannot be licensed in the state itself. We understand that and look for other factors, such as what local players say about a specific casino. As a result, we provide players with the best and most trusted websites.

Banking and Payments

Banking and payments are a common gripe for players who are tired of long cash-out procedures, delayed payments, and hefty fees. This is why we look for those online casinos for real money in North Carolina that have a robust banking system that can be put to rigorous testing and come through.

Mobile North Carolina Casinos

Mobile casinos are a thing in North Carolina and not least because you will have access to offshore casino sites anywhere in the state. Many of the casinos that operate under an offshore license may allow you to jump state borders and still play. This is a small added benefit coming from the unregulated gambling market for online casinos in the state, but of course has to be taken with customary precautions.

North Carolina Casino Apps

There are no online casino apps for real money in North Carolina. Due to the lack of regulated gambling, no operator is going to risk and host apps. Not least, Google Play and Apple Store won’t host apps for unregulated casinos. You can download social and sweepstake casino apps if you want to, however.

Land-Based Casinos in North Carolina

North Carolina is home to several tribal casinos which offer players a variety of games of chance. The properties are posted all over the state at a fair distance from one another, making it possible for people to have one in their vicinity. Yet, travel time is a real issue for some players who are often tempted to try the online alternatives instead. If you are looking to play at brick-and-mortar venues in North Carolina, however, these are some of the best ones to try.

Cherokee Casino

  • Address: 777 Casino Dr, Cherokee, NC 28719, United States
  • Phone: 1-877-811-0777

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort

  • Address: 777 Casino Dr, Cherokee, NC 28719, United States
  • Phone: +1 828-497-7777

Catawba Two Kings Casino

  • Address: 538 Kings Mountain Blvd, Kings Mountain, NC 28086, United States
  • Phone: +1 704-750-7777

Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River

  • Address: 777 Casino Pkwy, Murphy, NC 28906, United States
  • Phone: +1 828-422-7777

Responsible Gambling in North Carolina

North Carolina is aware of the dangers associated with online gambling and this is why the state has hosted several services and resources to help people who may be experiencing problem gambling move forward. The NC Problem Gambling Program is one of the core focuses of the state.

There is a Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program that will help you control your habits and even seek help with licensed specialists who can walk you through the next steps of your recovery. Yet, the biggest source of problem gambling materials is the National Council on Problem Gambling which runs a dedicated page for North Carolina.  

There you may find information about various services such as the National Problem Gambling Helpline or the dedicated North Carolina Council on Problem Gambling, among others.

North Carolina Online Casinos FAQ

Is North Carolina online casino gambling for real money legal?

No, NC online casinos for real money are not legal and the state has not yet passed laws that make it so. The good news is that online sports betting is legal, meaning online casinos may follow suit soon.

Can I play at online casinos in North Carolina?

Yes, you can play at online casinos in North Carolina. You may play legally at social and sweepstakes casinos, but you cannot play for real money legally. Offshore casino sites do cater to local players, but they are not regulated by the state.

What’s the legal gambling age in North Carolina?

21. The current legal gambling age in the state is 21 for both poker rooms and casinos. The same goes for sports wagering.