The Tar Heel state is known as being one of the stricter regions when it comes to online gambling activities and that has made it difficult for me to find the best online casinos in North Carolina.
Indeed, as you will see below, due to the legal limitations, NC residents have one main option when it comes to playing casino-style games online, and that’s sweepstakes casinos, which make a great alternative. That’s why I’ve written a comprehensive guide to online casinos in NC, what you can or can’t do, and where you can get started.
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Online gambling and online casino legislation is taken care of at state level in the US. So while you might be able to find the best online casinos in Texas, you might not be able to find any in Washington, for example. You can’t take it as a given that any type of gambling site is available, especially online casinos, as compared to other countries, they remain incredibly scarce and limited. This holds true for the Tar Heel state too.
While bricks and mortar casinos are legal in the state, online casinos are NOT legal in North Carolina. It isn’t exactly a gambling-friendly state, and at this point in time there doesn’t appear to be any legislation in progress that would change the legality of online casinos. Don’t worry though - as you will see below, there is an alternative that still allows you to play casino-style games like blackjack and slots, and have a blast.
There has been little in the way of a legislative push for online casinos in North Carolina. Any attempts that I’ve seen mainly revolve around physical casino venues in deprived areas of the state aimed at boosting the economy, and things like BLTs (Video Lottery Terminals). It’s clear that the state is open to change though, as in 2020 online sportsbooks were legalized here, but in general, the progression of online sports betting in the US gains traction far quicker than online casinos.
While new online casinos and any type of real money online casinos in North Carolina are illegal, it’s also important to understand the legal status of other types of gaming in the state:
| Type | Status |
| Online sports betting | Yes via specific sportsbooks |
| Lottery | North Carolina Education Lottery |
| Video poker | Not legal |
| Bingo | Non-profit organizations only, with limitations |
So, low deposit casinos and other real money sites are illegal, and this isn’t likely to change within the next few years. Remember that currently, online casinos are only legal in Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Where does that leave Tar Heel residents who want to enjoy online casino games then? It leaves you in the capable hands of North Carolina sweepstakes casinos! These are an exciting alternative to real money casinos and I detail how they work and their main features below.
In states like North Carolina where real money casinos aren’t available, sweepstakes casinos are an excellent alternative. They still offer casino-style games, but instead of playing with real money, you play with virtual currencies, and you get your winnings in virtual currencies too. These sites are generally allowed to operate provided that they comply with state regulations for sweepstakes casinos, a few of which are detailed below:
I mentioned the virtual currencies that North Carolina social casinos have and these are a core feature which you need to understand. There’s usually two types of virtual currency:
Both of these virtual currencies can be got for free via promotions like the new customer offer and daily wheel spin or login bonus. Some people refer to sweepstakes casinos as no deposit online casinos, and this isn’t strictly correct, as deposits simply are not a thing at these sites.
A key point I like to stress when looking at the best online casinos in North Carolina vs sweepstakes casinos is that the games are usually exactly the same - if you can play a game at a real money online casino, it’s probably available at a sweepstakes site too. I’ve given examples of the main game categories plus game types in this table:
| Game Category | Example Games |
| Slots | |
| Table games | |
| Arcade games | |
| Bingo | |
| Live dealer games |
I get that many North Carolina residents would prefer real money sites, but I genuinely believe that sweepstakes casinos are the perfect alternative. These sites have heaps of benefits, but I want to be realistic too, so I’ve listed their pros and cons below:
The best online casinos in the sweepstakes sphere usually have a common range of features that you should look for. This includes things like customer support options, site usability, game variety, security, and promotions for free Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins.
North Carolina sweepstakes casinos do not need a gambling license. Instead, they have to comply with state regulations. I explained this above, but you need to check for core features to make sure the site is legitimate. They cannot legally allow real money deposits or gameplay. You should only ever be able to play the games using virtual currencies, and they should always give you a supply of those virtual currencies. Look for features like the mail-in bonus, welcome bonus, and daily login bonus as these are the most common promotions.
I always want a site to have at least a couple of customer support methods so I know I can get help if I’m stuck. I primarily like to use live chat and this is the first option I look for. It should be available 24/7 and even if there is an AI chatbot feature, you should still be able to get through to a human rep. After a live chat, I look for secondary support methods like email, social media, and a help center. I will check the help center and other documentation to make sure they explain fully how the site works.
I often play at NC sweepstakes casinos on my mobile so I always check the mobile usability. I prefer the operator to provide a downloadable mobile app, but only a handful of sites seem to offer this feature. Instead, there’s usually a mobile responsive browser version of the website that works on your smaller screen size. I’ll also look at the site design and usability. The site should look modern, have a simple interface, and be easy to understand for beginners. The games should be logically sorted, and you should easily be able to see your virtual currency balance and make changes to your account.
I want games from the best iGaming developers at NC social casinos like Betsoft, BGaming, Relax Gaming, ICONIC21, and Slotmill. There should also be a large game library with at least 500+ casino-style games. Just bear in mind that some sites have as much as 1,500+ casino-style games! What games you look for depends on your preference. For example, I enjoy playing live dealer games and instant-win arcade games instead of slots, so I always look for these categories first.
The site must have industry-standard security features including a HTTPS connection and SSL encryption. I’ll always check for a valid SSL certificate, and documentation about how the site works and how NC customers interact with it. These documents usually include terms and conditions, privacy policy, and sweepstakes rules. The sweepstakes rules page is the most important one as it details how the virtual currencies work and how you can send off mail-in bonuses.
Lastly, I check for promotions and look at the ways I can get free Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. It should start with a sizable welcome bonus, and I should be able to get a daily login bonus every 24 hours. Referral schemes are also common, as are mail-in request bonuses, VIP programs, and social media contests. I’ll look for rarer promotion types too, like random SC bonus drops and game tournaments or daily challenges.
Whether you’re looking for the best online casinos in Florida, North Carolina, or some other state, I’ve got some words of wisdom to share that will help you prioritize fun and have an amazing time.
While legal online casinos for US players in North Carolina are not available, that doesn’t mean they never will be. We’ve already seen that laws change, and I predict that in time, there will be far more states where real money online casinos become available. We only have to look at the progression of online sports betting as an example. To begin with, sports betting was hardly legal anywhere, and it’s now supported in 25+ states. I expect real money online casinos to follow the same process, even if at a slower pace. Because of this, make sure you periodically check North Carolina casino legislation for changes and potential updates.
Although real money online casinos aren’t available in the Tar Heel state, there’s still a heap of responsible social gaming and responsible gambling resources and tools I think you should check out. Even if you don’t need to use them, it’s still wise to be aware of what is available if you ever feel like you need help. For example, there is the NC Problem Gambling Program, various helplines, and the North Carolina State Lottery Commission has a heap of resources, tools, and links available.
Now, it’s true that there is the possibility to make SC cash prize redemptions at North Carolina sweepstakes casinos. BUT, I never make that the focus of my gameplay. Instead, I always prioritize fun and make sure that I am just having a blast. I find this is a sensible way to approach playing at social casinos, and you will have a far more enjoyable experience. If you happen to get enough Sweeps Coins to make an SC redemption then awesome, but I usually see this as an added potential bonus, and not the sole thing I am striving for. Essentially, I treat playing at NC social casinos like playing a video game, where the actual gameplay is my main aim.
Free spins casinos in North Carolina are launching all the time and this alternative to the best online casinos in North Carolina continues to grow in popularity. You can check out the links and banners on this page for sites that are available in the state, and I recommend checking out our other resources as you will find we have plenty of reviews and promotion info on new sites that have just launched. Oftentimes these new operators bring different features, new welcome bonuses, and varying game collections that can provide new forms of entertainment alongside the established brands.
To recap - if you want the best online casinos in North Carolina, your only option is sweepstakes casinos. These are amazing alternatives to real money sites, and I strongly believe they offer exactly the same (if not more) in terms of game variety and entertainment value. North Carolina social casinos are packed with hundreds and thousands of games, bursting with promotions, and most importantly, are legal to play within the state!
If you want to give one of these operators a try in anticipation of real money casino laws changing, we’ve got some fantastic recommendations with the links and banners on this page, so why not click on one and get signed up?
Sort of. Online gambling laws in North Carolina are relatively strict. Online casinos are strictly prohibited, while social casinos are legal here. Sports betting has limited availability, and there is also the North Carolina Education Lottery.
Real money online casinos aren’t available in NC, but the best online casinos from a sweepstakes perspective are. You can legally play at sweepstakes casinos provided you are over 18 and an NC resident.
Not in the near future. There is currently no legislation to pass through the senate and there hasn’t been many attempts to legalize online casinos. This is why sweepstakes casinos remain such a popular alternative.
At these sites you use virtual currencies like Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins to play casino-style games with. Gold Coins are only for fun, but Sweeps Coin winnings have the potential to be redeemed for cash prizes if you have the minimum balance, and have met the playthrough requirements for bonus SC.
Generally, it is 21. However, in most instances for sweepstakes casinos the is 18. Please check with the individual sweepstakes casino though, as different operators can have different minimum age requirements.
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