North Carolina Sports Betting Handle Jumps 53% To $566.3 Million In July
North Carolina's seven licensed sportsbooks took in $566,349,683 in wagers during July, a 53% increase on the same month last year, according to the North Carolina State Lottery Commission's monthly sports wagering revenue report.
It marked the 11th consecutive month the state's handle has topped $500 million.
Higher Tax Rate Applied For The First Time
July was the first month operators paid North Carolina's new 23% tax on gross wagering revenue, up from 18%, after state lawmakers raised the rate in the recently passed budget.
Gross wagering revenue for the month came to $63,215,572, and the state collected more than $14 million in tax, its second-highest monthly total of 2026 after January's $14.4 million.
World Cup Knockout Rounds Drove Betting Volume
The Commission's report attributed part of the increase to the FIFA World Cup's knockout stage, which ran into mid-July and included the United States men's national team advancing past the group stage before losing to Belgium.
Operators paid out $498,728,763 in winnings during the month, with $4,405,348 recorded as canceled or void wagers.
North Carolina legalized online sports betting in March 2024. Since then, the market has expanded consistently, with July's handle running nearly $200 million ahead of the same month in 2025, when bettors wagered $370 million.
The state's tax rate increase is expected to boost North Carolina's take from the market through the rest of the year.
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