Slow July means North Carolina handle hits second-lowest total ever
July figures show another lean month during the sporting off-season for Tar Heel State operators, with gross wagering revenue also falling by $35.9m from month prior
North Carolina’s eight licensed sports betting operators generated the second lowest handle total since the state’s regulated market launched, in March 2024, as part of a slow July.
During the traditionally quiet sports betting period, the Tar Heel State’s sportsbooks amassed $370.4m in total wagering revenue.
The figure marks a notable decline from similarly low levels posted in June, falling 14.5% from $433.2m.
Of July’s handle, $361.5m stemmed from paid wagering revenue, while the remaining $8.8m was derived from promotional wagering spend.
The eight operators paid out $344.6m in winnings to North Carolina bettors, decreasing from the $372.2m paid in June.
Gross wagering revenue reported a significant fall to $22.7m, a steep 60.9% decrease when pitted against June’s $58.1m.
BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, Fanatics Betting and Gaming, and bet365, as well as ESPN Bet, Caesars Entertainment, and Underdog are all live in the market.
The sportsbooks paid just over $4m to the state in tax proceeds, the lowest amount produced since the North Carolina State Lottery Commission began reporting on the metric.
Each operator in the state is subject to a tax rate of 18% on all gross wagering revenue.
Figures for July mark the first released by the state’s regulator since the start of the new 2025-26 fiscal year.
In the year prior, operators amassed gross wagering revenue of $647.7m between July 2024 and June 2025.
Additionally, handle came to $6.6bn, of which $6.4bn was paid wagering revenue, with the remaining $222.5m from promo wagering revenue.