DraftKings and NASCAR Friday announced a written designation agreement that will allow the digital sports entertainment and gaming company to operate in North Carolina, pending licensure and regulatory approvals.
“DraftKings and NASCAR have collaborated closely with each other over the years, sharing a like-minded commitment to enhancing the fan experience,” said DraftKings North America President Matt Kalish in a statement. “We look forward to the next chapter in our journey together and offering our leading mobile sportsbook to fans in the state of North Carolina.”
Per the agreement, DraftKings also will be the exclusive daily fantasy sports partner of NASCAR in the United States and Canada along with becoming an authorized gaming operator of NASCAR and will receive additional sponsorship benefits within the national NASCAR ecosystem.
“DraftKings has a proven track record of enhancing the fan experience across sports,” said NASCAR Managing Director, Sports Betting Joe Solosky. “We are thrilled to continue working with DraftKings to deliver NASCAR fans more engagement opportunities and bring its leading mobile sportsbook to North Carolina.”
Regulated sports betting was approved in North Carolina in June 2023 and is expected to begin Jan. 8, 2024. In December 2023, the North Carolina Lottery Commission’s sports betting committee agreed to allow sports betting operators to apply for naming rights at the state’s sports venues.
Once live, North Carolina will be the 27th state in which DraftKings Sportsbook operates, following the company’s announced plans to enter Vermont on January 11.
