The North Carolina Lottery Commission approved a large set of mobile sports betting rules Wednesday, but it stopped short of answering the top question — one of timing — concerning the start of legal wagering.

The commission shared at its monthly meeting that 14 mobile wagering operators have requested application materials to take part in North Carolina sports betting, but the commission has yet to announce an official go-live date or even a timeline for when it might set that specific date.

It’s expected that major operators such as BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics Sportsbook, and FanDuel will be among those providing sports betting apps in the state in the first half of 2024. The launch won’t come before the Super Bowl in February, but it’s possible it could take place before March Madness. 

A few operators, including bet365 (Charlotte Hornets), ESPN BET (Quail Hollow Club), and FanDuel (PGA Tour), have already announced official partnerships with North Carolina franchises and venues to secure mobile market access. 

Operators intending to enter the state are to submit applications to the lottery by Dec. 27. None had done so as of early this week. 

While specific launch timelines weren’t discussed Wednesday, the commission did approve rulemaking package No. 2. The package includes dozens of notable regulations affecting operators of future North Carolina betting apps.

The package was discussed a week ago by the lottery’s sports betting committee. The rules include language emphasizing that operators cannot advertise to people under the age of 21. 

Additionally, marketing rules prohibit operators from referring to bets as “risk free” if they require bettors to incur any financial risk. Moving away from “risk free” language has been a trend in the industry for over a year. 

Originally, the proposed rules would have prohibited sports venues from having any part of their facility include sportsbook branding. That prohibition has been removed. 

Another rule focused on affiliate marketers and their relationships with operators. Rules clarify that affiliates and operators can work together in North Carolina, and further information related to those partnerships will be studied at another time.