Caesars Arena will not be taking the place of Raleigh’s PNC Arena. Similarly, FanDuel Field will not be located at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, and DraftKings Concourse will not be found at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary.

The North Carolina Lottery Commission’s sports betting committee has proposed new rules that would prohibit the use of naming rights by betting companies. These rules are currently open for public feedback.

The proposed regulation states that no operator is allowed to make a deal or buy the privilege to name a sports facility or racetrack, or any specific area within them such as seats, luxury boxes, parking lots, walkways, track, playing field, court, golf holes, locker rooms, benches, concession stands, and similar spaces.

A physical sports betting location, referred to as a “wagering facility” by the commission, has the option to use the operator’s brand name. This means that a sportsbook could be named ESPN BET and located at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The committee is in charge of overseeing state sports betting and is presently developing guidelines for all facets of the field.

The commission must ensure that sports betting is operational in North Carolina by June 15. It is possible that sports betting may commence on Jan. 8, but there is currently no established date for when it will be permitted.

The commission is set to vote on a initial set of regulations and descriptions later this month. This set of regulations contains a clear understanding of “fantasy contests” that some members of the industry are opposing.

The prohibition on naming rights was included in the second large set of proposals, totaling more than 250 pages. The public comment period is open through Nov. 27. There will be a public hearing on Nov. 20.

The suggested regulations cover areas such as licensing requirements, penalties for misconduct, internal control guidelines, responsible gambling, betting accounts, betting venues, advertising and promotional strategies, and guidelines for sports betting.

According to the suggested regulations:

• Bettors have the option to bet and potentially win a maximum of $10,000 while remaining anonymous at in-person sports betting locations, which are permitted at select sports stadiums, golf courses, and racetracks within the state. However, if the wager or payout exceeds $10,000, bettors are required to disclose their personal information such as name, date of birth, address, and social security number to verify their identity. This information must also be provided when creating or registering a mobile account, regardless of the amount being wagered.

• Marketing must contain a declaration that individuals under the age of 21 are not permitted to place bets and may not feature or portray university students or individuals wearing university-branded clothing, educational institutions, or university environments. If transmitted via phone, post, email, or any other electronic medium, the recipient must have the option to unsubscribe.

• Additionally, marketing cannot target individuals under the age of 21, even on platforms commonly used by this age group. This includes events where more than 25% of the attendees are expected to be under 21, as well as any venues for elementary, middle, or high schools, and any college or university campuses. This restriction also applies to student newspapers, radio, and television broadcasts.

Source: wral.com