North Carolina sports betting tax revenue reaches $16.7M in November

North Carolina collected an estimated $16.7 million in tax proceeds from online sports betting in November, driven by a record $814 million handle and the continued momentum of football and basketball wagering.

State data showed an increase of more than $2.6 million compared to October, and the North Carolina State Lottery Commission reported a third consecutive record month for the state’s digital market.

The $813.9 million in total wagers included promotional bets placed at eight online sportsbooks. November represented only the second time that statewide wagering surpassed $800 million and reflected a 27% year-over-year increase. According to the revenue report, operators generated the second-highest gross wagering revenue since launch, coming in at $92.9 million and up 18.9% from the same month in 2024. Since mobile betting went live on March 11, 2024, operator gross revenue has exceeded $1.2 billion.

Amounts paid as winnings in November totaled $717.6 million, reflecting a decrease of more than $11 million month over month. The report lists $791.7 million in paid wagering revenue and $22.3 million in promotional wagering revenue for the month, with $3.5 million in cancelled and voided wagers.

September and October previously set new benchmarks for the growing online market, and the November record exceeded October’s handle by about $2.5 million. The state attributes continued wagering volume to ongoing football seasons, early college basketball action, and professional sports schedules including the NBA and NHL.

Official reports do not include wagering breakdowns by sport or event. However, stakeholders note that the presence of active professional teams in major leagues has kept futures markets active. Odds listings include the Carolina Panthers at 200-1 in NFL championship futures, the Carolina Hurricanes at 7.5-1 in Stanley Cup betting, and the Charlotte Hornets at 1000-1 to win the NBA title. Charlotte FC recently completed its fourth MLS season with a playoff appearance.

BetMGM, bet365, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, Fanatics Sportsbook, FanDuel, Underdog Sports and ESPN Bet were active during November reporting. Operator participation shifted shortly after month-end reporting closed. On December 1, ESPN Bet exited North Carolina and theScore Bet entered the market following the end of PENN Entertainment’s licensing agreement with ESPN.

The state’s latest Sports Betting Revenue Report for FY 2026 indicated more than $3.16 billion in total wagering revenue, $314.6 million in gross wagering revenue, and $56.6 million in estimated tax proceeds through November.

These figures remain preliminary until final adjustments are submitted to the Department of Revenue.