North Carolina's licensed sports betting operators generated $49m in gross wagering revenue during August 2026, representing a 9.5% year-on-year decline.
The North Carolina State Lottery Commission reported total wagering revenue of $520.5m for the month, up 8.7% from $478.7m. The August total comprised $508.3m in paid wagers and $12.1m in promotional wagering revenue.
Players received $467.7m in winnings, while $3.7m of wagers were cancelled or voided. Estimated tax proceeds reached $11.2m, an increase of 15.3% compared with $9.7m in August 2025.
The higher tax contribution came despite the year-on-year decline in operator revenue. The Commission's August report calculates estimated proceeds using a 23% tax on gross wagering revenue, compared with the 18% rate applied to the August 2025 figures.
August represented a slowdown from July, when North Carolina recorded $566.3m in total wagers and $63.2m in gross wagering revenue. Month-on-month, handle declined 8.1% and gross wagering revenue fell 22.5%. Estimated tax proceeds also decreased from $14m to $11.2m.
The latest figures bring total wagering revenue for the first two months of FY2027 to $1.09bn. Gross wagering revenue reached $112.2m across July and August, generating an estimated $25.3m in tax proceeds.
North Carolina currently has seven licensed interactive sports betting operators. The market contracted from eight following Underdog's decision to stop accepting sports wagers in December 2025.
In February, North Carolina sports betting revenue increased 4.3% to $58.1m, alongside a total handle of nearly $596.1m and $10.5m in estimated tax proceeds. Underdog's exit had reduced the state to seven licensed operators by that stage.
North Carolina's August handle marked the 12th consecutive month in which sports wagers exceeded $500m, with cumulative state sports betting tax proceeds having passed $300m since the market launched in March 2024
