NC Sports Betting Handle Hits $500M For 12th Month

North Carolina sports bettors wagered more than $500 million for the twelfth consecutive month in August, pushing the state's total sports betting tax collections past the $300 million mark since the regulated market launched in March 2024.

According to figures released by the North Carolina State Lottery Commission, bettors wagered $520.5 million in August, up nearly 9% from the same month in 2025 and more than 40% higher than August 2024.

The Commission has published a monthly sports wagering revenue report since the market's launch, tracking handle, promotional wagers, winnings paid out, and estimated tax proceeds.

Higher Tax Rate Hasn't Slowed The Handle

The growth has continued despite a significant change to the state's tax structure. North Carolina lawmakers raised the tax on sportsbooks' gross wagering revenue from 18% to 23% in July 2026, and the state's estimated tax proceeds from sports betting have now reached roughly $308 million since launch.

North Carolina's licensed sportsbook operators have paid out $14.7 billion in winnings against $15.7 billion in paid wagers, plus a further $780 million in promotional or free bets, over that period.

Gross wagering revenue for August fell 9.5% year-on-year to an estimated $49 million, even as the handle rose, with estimated tax proceeds for the month reaching $11.2 million, up from $9.7 million in August 2025 under the higher rate.

The market has operated with seven licensed sportsbooks since Underdog Fantasy exited the state in December 2025.

2026 Handle Already Past $4.8 Billion

North Carolina bettors wagered $7.2 billion in 2025. Through the end of August 2026, that year-to-date total already stands above $4.8 billion, and the final four months of the year, spanning the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB postseason, typically produce some of the state's highest monthly wagering totals.

July 2026 remains the state's single biggest month on record, with $566.3 million wagered and $63.2 million in gross wagering revenue, according to the Commission's data; August's handle grew 8.1% month-on-month even as gross wagering revenue fell 22.5% from July's total.

North Carolina legalized online sports betting under a 2023 law and launched its regulated market in March 2024, becoming one of the largest new sports betting states by population to go live that year.

Regulatory Responsibilities

The North Carolina State Lottery Commission, which also oversees the state's traditional lottery games, took on regulatory responsibility for sports wagering under that law and has published a monthly wagering revenue report every month since launch, covering handle, promotional wagers, amounts paid out in winnings, gross wagering revenue, and estimated tax proceeds for each licensed operator.

The July 2026 tax-rate increase, from 18% to 23% of gross wagering revenue, was approved by state lawmakers as part of the state budget process and makes North Carolina's sports betting tax rate one of the highest among states that have legalized the activity since the 2018 repeal of the federal ban on sports wagering.