I just placed my first online sports bet in NC. Here’s what I learned
Online sports betting launched in North Carolina on Monday, with the state granting licenses to eight companies to operate in the Tar Heel State.
Just like with any game of chance, like the lottery or anything you might find in a casino, the chances of winning big money by betting on sports are slim — but they’re not zero.
And as the old adage goes, “you can’t win if you don’t play.”
So, I decided to test the waters by placing a small bet. Here’s how it went.
How I picked which app to use
I didn’t do a lot of research before deciding which app to use, but I felt like I didn’t have to with all of the ads I saw for them.
“I’m pumped! Let’s go North Carolina!”
That’s what former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski said in an ad for FanDuel, and I haven’t been able to get his voice out of my head.
But I guess the ad worked, since that’s the one I downloaded.
Making an account
The process to make an account on Fan Duel was pretty straightforward.
I just had to enter my name, contact information, address (to verify my location) and payment information. I was able to link my Apple Pay account, but there were options to add or credit or debit card to place bets.
Placing a bet
There are a lot of different types of bets you can place, but for the purposes of this story, I went with the simplest one: a moneyline bet.
Moneyline bets are placed when you pick the winner of a game.
I placed a $10 bet on the Carolina Hurricanes to beat the New York Rangers Tuesday evening. I figured it was a safe choice, since the Hurricanes were the favorite to win, they were playing at home, and if they won, I’d make about $6. And if they didn’t win, I’d only be out $10.
I also wanted my first bet to be on a team from North Carolina. College basketball can be unpredictable, so I chose to bet on hockey, despite not knowing much about it. That will be important for later.
Following the game
NHL games aren’t available on any of the streaming services I’m subscribed to, so I didn’t watch the game. Instead, I kept track of it on the ESPN app.
The first time I checked the score was late in the second period, when the Canes were down 1-0.
I wasn’t worried about it, since, I thought, they basically had another half to score two goals and win.
I checked the score midway through the third period, when the Canes were still at one-goal deficit, but I reminded myself they still had another period to score.
Then the game ended. The Canes lost.
It was then that I learned (through a quick Google search) hockey only has three periods.
The takeaway
I’m not “pumped” about losing $10, but I did learn one thing: It’s probably not a good idea to bet on sports you know nothing about.
Placing a bet did make the game more interesting to follow, and the way I see it, losing $10 just means one less trip to Cook Out this month.
I’m also aware that a few $10 bets can snowball into an addiction quickly for some.
There are ways to bet responsibly, and since no wager is ever a sure thing, you should only bet with the money you can afford to lose.
I’m done with betting for now, but if I feel like losing money in the near future, I’ll just put some money on the Hornets to win.
This story was originally published March 14, 2024 at 6:40 AM.
