Self-exclusion by state · North Carolina
How to self-exclude from sports betting in North Carolina
North Carolina's list covers licensed online sportsbooks and pari-mutuel betting. You can enroll online, it takes effect in three to four business days, and the state gives residents free Gamban. Tribal casinos aren't confirmed as covered, and state law now leaves prediction markets outside state control.
The short answer
One list, online or in person, for 1, 3 or 5 years or lifetime. Takes 3–4 business days. Balances are refunded before the exclusion begins.
Program: Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program, run by the North Carolina State Lottery Commission (ncgaming.gov). Official page →
Terms: 1 year · 3 years · 5 years · Lifetime
North Carolina help: NC Problem Gambling Helpline 1-877-718-5543; text 'morethanagamenc' to 53342; chat at morethanagamenc.com
What to do today, before the state list kicks in
Enroll online today, claim your free Gamban licence, and self-exclude inside each app to cover the few days before the list reaches operators.
Then read how to block each app — excluding inside the app is usually faster than any state list, and it’s the first layer of the firewall.
What the North Carolina list covers, and what it doesn’t
| Type of gambling | Status | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Online sportsbooks | Covered | |
| Retail sportsbooks | Covered | For Commission-licensed operators (e.g., pro-venue sportsbooks); tribal casino sportsbooks - see tribal |
| Casinos | Not covered | NC's only casinos are tribal |
| Online casino | N/A | Not legal in NC |
| Daily fantasy / pick'em | Unconfirmed | Not mentioned; DFS is not regulated by the Commission |
| Lottery | Unconfirmed | Commission's program page lists sports wagering and pari-mutuel horse racing only; NCDHHS page says it covers 'casinos and lottery' (appears inaccurate) |
| Video gaming machines | N/A | |
| Tribal casinos | Unconfirmed | /likely false - Eastern Band of Cherokee (Harrah's Cherokee, Caesars Sportsbook on tribal lands) and Catawba operate under tribal compacts; Commission list not stated to apply |
| Prediction markets (Kalshi etc.) | Not covered |
The gaps people miss
- Prediction markets are explicitly outside state control: the July 2026 state budget (signed by Gov. Stein) recognizes exclusive CFTC authority over prediction markets and taxes them 6% with no licensing or regulatory obligations - so Kalshi/Polymarket are legal and NOT on the state self-exclusion list; exclude on each platform
- Tribal casinos (Harrah's Cherokee, Harrah's Cherokee Valley River, Catawba Two Kings) and their sportsbooks are not confirmed as covered - exclude with the tribe/casino separately
- Lottery is probably not covered despite the Lottery Commission running the program
- Operators may extend your exclusion to their other states/properties, but that is operator discretion, not guaranteed
- Takes 3-4 business days, not instant
How to enroll in North Carolina
| Way to enroll | Available? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Online | Yes | |
| In person | Yes | |
| By mail | No | |
| By phone or video | No |
- Go to ncgaming.gov/responsible-gaming-2/ and open the DocuSign enrollment form (or visit an NC Education Lottery Claims Center)
- Verify identity with government ID or by answering identity-verification questions
- Choose 1, 3, or 5 years, or lifetime
- Withdraw your balance - operators refund unencumbered funds before exclusion begins
- Allow 3-4 business days; self-exclude in each app meanwhile
- Separately exclude at Harrah's Cherokee / Catawba Two Kings and from any prediction-market apps
What you need
Government-issued ID or answers to unique identity-verification questions.
How long it takes to take effect
Typically 3-4 business days.
What happens to your balance and open bets
Do this first, whatever your state says: withdraw your balance and let open bets settle before you enroll. Getting money back afterward means dealing with an operator that is now required to refuse you.
Unencumbered funds are refunded before the exclusion begins; winnings from any bets placed while excluded are treated as unclaimed.
Can you get off the list early?
No early removal; you may only petition the Commission in writing for mistaken identity or fraud. Removal is automatic when the term ends.
Free blocking software in North Carolina
Gamban free for NC residents via NCDHHS Problem Gambling Program (morethanagame.nc.gov/recovery/tools-resources/).
The Betting Firewall
This is one wall. You need five.
The North Carolina list makes licensed operators refuse you. It does nothing about offshore sites, prediction-market apps, a friend’s account, or the money in your checking account. That’s what the other four layers are for.
- The appsSelf-exclude and close every sportsbook, fantasy, and prediction-market account you have. Guide →
- Your phoneBlock the apps and sites at the device level so a deleted app can't come back. Guide →
- A blockerInstall Gamban or another blocker that can't be removed early. Guide →
- Your moneyCard controls, gambling blocks at your bank, and someone else on the account. Guide →
- The state list — this pageEnroll in your state's self-exclusion program so every licensed operator has to refuse you.
The 24-Hour Betting Shutdown Plan
Self-exclusion is one wall. The Shutdown Plan walks you through all five layers of the Betting Firewall in one day — apps, phone, money, people, and the state list. Free, first name and email only.
Sign-up opens shortly. In the meantime, every step is on the Shutdown Plan page.
No spam, no selling your data, unsubscribe anytime. If you want structure past day one, the 90-Day Stop Betting Program is the next step — we’ll mention it once in the emails.