BetMGM offers up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first wager loses; bet365 counters with either a $1,000 First Bet Safety Net or a flat Bet $10, Get $150 in bonus bets — win or lose. For most NC bettors depositing under $1,000, bet365's second option is the cleaner deal; bigger bankrolls tilt toward BetMGM. Here's the full breakdown.

How Do the Welcome Bonuses Compare?

Feature BetMGM NC bet365 NC
Welcome offer type First Bet Safety Net — up to $1,500 in bonus bets Choice: up to $1,000 Safety Net or Bet $10, Get $150 (win or lose)
Bonus trigger First bet must lose Safety Net: first bet must lose; Bet $10/Get $150: no loss required
Bonus bet expiry 7 days after issuance 7 days after issuance
Minimum deposit $10 (most methods) $10 (most methods)
Withdrawable? Only net cash winnings from a winning bonus bet Only net cash winnings from a winning bonus bet

Both operators are among the seven currently licensed in North Carolina, all overseen by the North Carolina State Lottery Commission (NCSLC). You can see how they rank against the full field in our NC Sportsbook Rankings: Every Licensed App Rated.

Which Offer Is Better for NC Bettors?

The Bet $10, Get $150 option from bet365 is the rarer structure: you collect $150 in bonus bets regardless of whether your first wager wins or loses. That's guaranteed value for a $10 stake — no heartbreak required. The trade-off is ceiling: $150 is the max, so a high-stakes bettor gets far less coverage than BetMGM's $1,500 Safety Net provides.

BetMGM's offer only pays out if you lose that first bet, which inverts the usual emotional experience of signing up. Still, up to $1,500 back in bonus bets is the largest safety net among NC's active sportsbooks. Our full BetMGM North Carolina Review: $1,500 First-Bet Offer Tested walks through exactly how to structure that opening wager to maximize coverage.

bet365's dual-option structure is genuinely unusual — most operators force you into a single promo. Read how each plays out in practice in our bet365 North Carolina Review: Two Welcome Offers Compared.

What About Ongoing Value?

Both apps support American odds formats — moneylines, spreads, totals, parlays, same-game parlays, and live betting. Neither accepts cryptocurrency deposits; standard options include debit cards, ACH, PayPal, and Play+ prepaid cards, with PayPal withdrawals typically clearing within one business day. bet365 does offer a deposit match bonus on some promotions, but note the 90-day playthrough window before those funds become withdrawable cash.

If you're also weighing other head-to-head matchups, check our FanDuel vs DraftKings in North Carolina: Full Comparison for the two highest-volume apps in the state.

NC Tax Reminder for Both Platforms

Whichever sportsbook you choose, all winnings are taxable income in North Carolina at the state's 4.5% flat rate (tax year 2024). Critically, NC does not allow deduction of gambling losses at the state level — a bettor who nets zero on the year can still owe tax on gross winnings. A pending bill, HB 14, would change this, but it has not been enacted. See Is Sports Betting Legal in North Carolina? The Full Story for the full legal and tax picture.

Must be 21+ and physically located in North Carolina to place a wager. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or the NC Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-877-718-5543.