North Carolina sports betting apps compete for players ahead of Monday launch

Pretty soon sports fans in North Carolina will be able to wager on competitions across college basketball, the NBA, NHL and several others sports leagues. But before operators like DraftKings and FanDuel begin taking wager this Monday (perhaps as early as noon E.T.), an off-the-radar competition rages.

Online sports wagering is expected to be big business as the window opens in North Carolina, but in order to hit revenue targets, participating brands must win the race for new users.

Establishing early market share is the first step to building player loyalty, or, in other words, you can’t keep customers if you don’t get first get them. That’s why the final days before sports betting launches and the first weeks after it does will be critical for sportsbooks.

North Carolina sports betting brings competitive landscape

There are currently seven different sportsbook operators looking to win the business of eager future North Carolina sports bettors which means the competition is fierce. Some brands like BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel North Carolina enjoy the benefit of big brands that have long been synonymous with sports gaming.

Such brands have carved out considerable market share in previously-launched markets and can, to some degree, roll into new markets expecting success simply on the strength of popularity. Others, like bet365, Fanatics, and ESPN BET, are newer to sports fans and will be looking to gain ground. For all three brands, North Carolina marks the first time that these operators will go live in a state at the same time as everyone else — a level playing field of sorts.

As such, these brands will be motivated to show that they can punch with the heavyweights.

NC sportsbooks show sense of urgency before launch

With a deep field of sportsbooks available, North Carolina sports betting promos will be one way operators lean into new user acquisition. In a way, it’s how brands have an opportunity to make a first impression. Since user experiences can’t be established ahead of the start of sports betting, operators are incentivized to create enticing new player bonuses.

In fact, seven of the eight brands scheduled to begin taking wagers this Monday are currently offering pre-registration bonuses. Brands like ESPN BET North Carolina and bet365 North Carolina are turning to significant bonuses to bring in new users.

Still, many players will likely sign up with multiple apps ahead of launch, looking to take advantage of all the bonuses. Then, it will be up to the in-app features, retention offers, and user experience to keep players coming back.

Here’s a full look at each North Carolina sports betting promo (and how to get them) available through March 10: