Kris Johnson Deputy Editor -- CasinoBeats.com
Kris Johnson is a Charlotte-based deputy editor. He joined CasinoBeats in July 2025 and oversees the daily news flow of editing and publishing. Kris also reports on all aspects of the gambling industry with a...
Read Full BioUnderdog Sportsbook sent an email to its North Carolina customers on Wednesday, notifying them that the platform will cease operations next week.
The move followed Underdog’s decision to withdraw from Missouri in the days leading up to its sports betting launch on December 1. Underdog, which opted to offer prediction markets in Missouri, is expected to do likewise in North Carolina.
Underdog’s email stated in part, “We wanted to let you know about an upcoming change in North Carolina: Starting December 17, sports betting will no longer be available via the Underdog platform. Don’t worry. Underdog isn’t going anywhere. You’ll still be able to make fantasy picks, play drafts, and enjoy everything else you love about the app using the same credentials as before.
“All wagers placed before December 17 will be honored. Any futures wagers that haven’t been settled by that date will be paid out as a win. You don’t need to take any action; your account will automatically reflect these updates.”
The email added that “withdrawable funds can be withdrawn at any time, including after December 17. Active bonus funds will remain available for use on fantasy games.”
State Regulator Confirms Closing, Gives Timeline Details
The North Carolina State Lottery Commission confirmed the impending closure in a statement yesterday. The commission provided key timeline details for Underdog customers:
- Underdog will stop accepting sports wagers on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
- Underdog expects to settle all outstanding sports wagers by Thursday, Dec. 18.
- A sports wagering account holder can withdraw funds from their account throughout and after the closure.
Underdog Never Found Its Footing as Sportsbook
Underdog Sportsbook had live operations only in North Carolina, with a license in Ohio that was never utilized. When it abruptly pulled out of Missouri leading up to launch, it became clear that Underdog’s future focus is on prediction markets—and for obvious reasons.
“They have decided to go to that market,” Missouri Gaming Commission Mike Leara said. “It’s not regulated at any level compared to what traditional sports betting is regulated, and obviously, there’s no tax on it.”
Underdog was one of eight original online sportsbooks following North Carolina’s launch in March 2024. For now, North Carolina’s roster of licensed sportsbooks has been trimmed to seven:
- BetMGM
- bet365
- Caesars Sportsbook
- DraftKings
- Fanatics Sportsbook
- FanDuel
- theScore Bet
TheScore Bet recently replaced ESPN Bet after PENN terminated its licensing deal with ESPN. Underdog could be replaced by another, more established operator in North Carolina.
North Carolina sports betting continues to thrive, with the Tar Heel State enjoying another $800M+ record month in November.
