North Carolina sports betting reached approximately $6.4 billion in total wagers for the last fiscal year, according to the North Carolina State Lottery Commission, putting the total handle at almost $8.4 billion. The Tar Heel State has generated about $116.5 million in tax revenue from sports betting, exceeding initial expectations when the market went live in March 2024.
Despite launching in March 2024, North Carolina has already made the top 20 in sports betting handle, ranking 17th. It’s the only market within the top 20 rankings that launched in 2024.
Back in 2023, while legalized online sports betting was being finalized, the legislature’s Fiscal Research Division projected $3.9 billion. That projection has been easily eclipsed. At the current rate of about $6 billion in handle per year, North Carolina could move into the top 10 sooner rather than later.
The following table highlights the top 20 states in sports betting handle since their launch dates, accurate as of July 2025:
| Market | Sports Betting Handle | Launch Date |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $69.8 billion | January 2022 |
| New Jersey | $63.7 billion | August 2018 |
| Illinois | $49.7 billion | June 2020 |
| Nevada | $48.5 billion | October 2010 |
| Pennsylvania | $38.8 billion | May 2019 |
| Arizona | $24.8 billion | September 2021 |
| Colorado | $24.2 billion | May 2020 |
| Virginia | $22.6 billion | January 2021 |
| Indiana | $22.4 billion | October 2019 |
| Michigan | $21.5 billion | January 2021 |
| Ohio | $20.0 billion | January 2023 |
| Tennessee | $18.9 billion | November 2020 |
| Massachusetts | $15.9 billion | March 2023 |
| Maryland | $14.3 billion | November 2022 |
| Iowa | $11.6 billion | August 2019 |
| Louisiana | $10.8 billion | January 2022 |
| North Carolina | $8.4 billion | March 2024 |
| Connecticut | $6.8 billion | October 2021 |
| Kansas | $6.6 billion | September 2022 |
| Kentucky | $4.5 billion | September 2023 |
Despite the overall growth, North Carolina saw a decrease in sports betting handle this past month, outlined in the table below.
| Month | Sports Betting Handle |
|---|---|
| June 2025 | $433.2 million |
| May 2025 | $562.2 million |
| April 2025 | $576.2 million |
| March 2025 | $685.0 million |
| February 2025 | $543.4 million |
| January 2025 | $646.9 million |
| December 2024 | $624.6 million |
| November 2024 | $657.7 million |
| October 2024 | $612.0 million |
| September 2024 | $575.4 million |
| August 2024 | $370.5 million |
| July 2024 | $340.4 million |
| June 2024 | $398.3 million |
June 2025 was the least active month for NC sports betting since August 2024. While there was a significant decrease from May to June of this year, there was still year-over-year growth compared to June 2024.
The summer months are the slowest time of year in the sports betting calendar, so lower sports betting handles are forecasted for both June and August before action picks up in September for the start of a new NFL season.
Despite a slower June, this is still an active market that has helped North Carolina earn a total of $147.3 million in tax revenue, which goes to the state general fund, athletics programs, and major events. Additionally, an annual allocation of $2 million is made towards problem gambling to prioritize player safety, while $1 million is sent to youth sports, and $300,000 to state universities.
North Carolina sports betting has a tax rate of 18%, which is on the higher end. While not as substantial as New York, it’s more than Arizona, Colorado, New Jersey, and other states. With a rapidly growing market to go along with a higher rate, the Tar Heel State is expected to continue to generate significant tax revenue.
