Fans head to Backyard Bistro to place bets as sports betting begins

Eight operators went live Monday at noon, allowing people located in the state to bet from their own phones through apps. State lawmakers passed a bill last year to legalize mobile betting and Gov. Roy Cooper signed it into law.

One fan said he placed his bet as soon as betting became legal at noon on Monday.

"I placed my first bet when I got here," Dante McClean said.

The restaurant had Fanatics sportsbook logos and QR codes around the restaurants, encouraging fans to sign up and make bets.

And so far, it's working.

"[I] did a bonus bet that Duke or UNC will win the national championship," one fan said. "Hopefully they can do it."

Candy Fisher said that sports betting has already created more interest and excitement for sporting events.

"I think it will be a lot busier," she said. "A lot more excitement at the games, being able to bet."

It's taken nine months to input rules and regulations around mobile sports betting. In-person wagering on sports was legal has been legal in North Carolina for three years, but only at three tribal casinos.

North Carolina is the 30th state to legalize mobile sports betting and it could be the last one this year.

"On-a-on pound for pound basis, we expect that North Carolina is going to be one of the better states for sure," said Gary Deutsch, the chief financial officer at BetMGM, one of eight operators in the state. "There's fervent sports fan interest, the population of bands for the different colleges down there should make that a big source of excitement. The fact that states launching on the week before March Madness is obviously an indication that everybody knows that North Carolina is a huge cost basketball state."

The ACC Tournament tips off Tuesday in Washington, D.C. The NCAA men's and women's tournaments get started next week.

Operators are already offering North Carolina-specific bets on their apps.

Customers could create and fund their accounts starting March 1. Operators have flooded the state with advertising on television, radio and digital platforms.

Fanatics is the official sports betting partner of the Hurricanes. Fans should expect to see the company's logos around PNC Arena.

North Carolina native Rob Brazer, Fanatics vice president of product, helped create the app.

"We try to develop experiences that are intuitive and you magically can understand how they work based on how we lead you through the process," Brazer said.

At a demonstration event on Friday, Brazer showed how the Fanatics app works. Placing a bet from the palm of your hand is simple.

NC sportbook promos: Here's all 7 North Carolina sports signup offers

"You just click 'add to your bet slip,' select an increment, place it and that’s it," he said.

The app also allows users to limit their gambling before it becomes an addiction.

"Scroll down until you see 'responsible gaming," he said. "Then, you have a bunch of options for setting wager limits, deposit limits and session limits.

"With those tools, we just want to help give customers the opportunity to use sports betting for what it is – a form of entertainment, adding excitement to the game – but doing so responsibly.

Science of sports betting: WRAL Investigates the odds of winning

The Carolina Ale House is the official watch party headquarters for the Canes. Fanatics is the official sportsbook for the team.

"I’m ready to place my own bets," Carolina Ale House manager Paul Roc said. "[New England Patriots] all the way, and then, the Carolina Hurricanes."

Roc is ready for customers to place their first bets from their phones.

"Oh, it’s going to be that double engagement from here to here to here to here," Roc said. "Talking to friends and everyone’s going to be comparing."

Roc said he thinks it will allow fans something to talk about while they enjoy food and drinks.

"It’s just going to up the fun level to what is already a great pastime – watching football, watching hockey," he said.

The Hurricanes will also hold a party at Backyard Bistro on Monday night to celebrate. Backyard Bistro, across the street from PNC Arena will host the team's sportsbook until renovations at the arena are complete.