Will you be able to bet on March Madness in NC? Gov. Cooper says that's the plan

The start of mobile sports betting in North Carolina could be about 10 weeks away.

Or about the same time as Selection Sunday for the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

"The idea is to try to get it in place before March Madness," Gov. Roy Cooper told reporters after Tuesday morning's Council of State meeting in Raleigh. "There's a lot going on at the Lottery Commission to make sure that that process goes the right way."

The tournament, often referred to as March Madness, tips off in earnest on March 21. Charlotte's Spectrum Center will host first- and second-round games.

The North Carolina Lottery Commission is charged with creating rules and regulations around mobile sports betting and establishing a start date in the state. The commission's next scheduled meeting is Wednesday. It has yet to set a start date, but said it won't be before the Feb. 11 Super Bowl.

Eight mobile sports operators have applied for licenses. They are FanDuel, Bet MGM, DraftKings, Fanatics Sportsbook, bet365, Penn Sports (ESPN Bet), Underdog Sports Wagering and, most recently, Catawba Two Kings Casino.

The operators must have agreements with teams, venues or organizations such as NASCAR and the PGA Tour in order to obtain a license. Several agreements have been announced or reported in recent weeks.

The Catawba, which operate an in-person sportsbook at their casino in Cleveland County just miles from the South Carolina border off Interstate 85, do not have to have an agreement with a team or venue.

"Currently, we are in the process of vetting and choosing a partner for mobile sports betting," Tylee Anderson, communications director for the tribe, told WRAL in response to questions. "We hope to have one chosen within the next few months and are looking forward to launching our new gaming venture."