ESPN Bet has initiated pre-registration for its North Carolina launch, scheduled for Monday 11 March.

The platform invites residents to register ahead of its market debut, accompanied by a celebratory event in Charlotte on Friday, 15 March, hosted by ESPN's Stephen A Smith.

Those who pre-register by 7 March stand a chance to win a VIP experience at the launch party, where they can play college basketball alongside Stephen A Smith. Additional details regarding the giveaway can be found on the ESPN Bet website.

New player incentives in North Carolina include a $200 bonus bet for first-time depositors who place their initial sportsbook bet, as well as a $25 bonus bet for pre-registered users before 11 March.

ESPN Bet, operational since November 2023 and currently accessible in 17 US states, is a collaboration between ESPN and Penn Entertainment.

This pre-registration phase follows a partnership announcement designating ESPN Bet and theScore Bet as the Official Sports Betting Partners of the National Hockey League (NHL).

The collaboration with the NFL offers various benefits, including intellectual property rights, premium NHL experiences and media and marketing integrations throughout the league's events.

The partnership also granted access to a range of benefits throughout the NHL regular season, Stanley Cup Playoffs, 2024 NHL Winter Classic, 2024 NHL Stadium Series and 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend.