The North Carolina State Lottery Commission is thrilled to announce the appointment of Sterl Carpenter as the leader of the gaming compliance and sports betting division. With a professional tenure extending over three decades in relevant sectors, Carpenter is an industry stalwart whose last eight years were served at the Massachusetts Gaming Commission – one of the toughest gaming regulators in the US.
Sterl Carpenter: North Carolina’s Highest Calibre Candidate Lands the Role
The announcement was accompanied by a press statement from the executive director of the NC Educational Lottery, Mark Michalko. Michalko expressed his satisfaction with Carpenter’s appointment. Noting the laborious search process, Michalko stated that the outcome certainly met the regulator’s expectations. He further expanded:
Carpenter’s vast experience in regulation, licensing, and compliance is unparalleled. We are optimistic to have a professional with such extensive knowledge and expertise at the helm of our new gaming program.
NC Educational Lottery’s Mark Michalko
Stepping into his role on August 2, Carpenter will assume immediate responsibility for directing sports gambling regulation. This appointment coincides with a time when the state is on the brink of inaugurating its stand in the industry. In June, North Carolina green-lit a law to introduce online sports gambling, with an anticipated onset of up to 12 commercial sportsbooks hitting the market.
With the recent wave of legalization, corporations like Internet Vikings and Continent 8 Technologies have already started assembling an infrastructure in North Carolina, preparing for the official roll-out of sports gambling.
Prediction: Sports Betting Market to Debut in 2024
Carpenter’s selection carries a significance that extends beyond his ability to manage an entire market efficiently. Carpenter has been part of the Bay State’s betting program inception, making him particularly equipped to offer guidance and relay best practices to his North Carolina colleagues.
The precise timing for the launch of sports gambling in North Carolina remains to be clarified. Optimists are holding out for a roll-out that aligns with the Super Bowl. Theoretically, sportsbooks could kick off in time for this. However, all signs point towards a start date of June 14, 2024, thus the speed with which sportsbooks appear in North Carolina primarily depends on the pace of the regulator, and now Carpenter.
