North Carolina Sports Betting Tops $520 Million in August

Jonathan Rodriguez

Written by: Jonathan Rodriguez

Published: Tue Oct 06, 2026, 11:00 am ET

Read Time: 3 minutes

North Carolina Sports Betting Tops $520 Million in August

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North Carolina sports bettors wagered more than $520 million in August 2026. The result extended the state's strong run of monthly betting activity.

The North Carolina State Lottery Commission recently released its sports wagering revenue report for August 2026. Their report showed that account holders wagered $520.47 million during the month. That figure included both paid and promotional wagers.

Most notably, August marked the 12th consecutive month when North Carolina's betting handle exceeded $500 million. The state's total also increased nearly 9% from August 2025. It climbed more than 40% compared with the same month in 2024.

The results demonstrate the continued expansion of US online sportsbooks within North Carolina. However, the market experienced a monthly decline after an especially strong July.

North Carolina Sports Betting Handle Remains Strong

North Carolina recorded $508.3 million in paid wagers during August. Promotional wagers contributed another $12.1 million to the monthly total. Bettors received $467.75 million in winnings during the period.

The August handle declined from July's $566.3 million total. July benefited from heightened interest surrounding the FIFA World Cup, which helped produce an unusually strong month.

Even so, August remained considerably stronger than the same period during previous years. The sustained performance also shows how quickly the state's regulated market has matured since launching online betting.

Sportsbook Revenue Falls From July

Despite the strong handle, sportsbooks generated less gross wagering revenue in August. Operators reported $48.99 million in gross wagering revenue for the month.

That represented a substantial decline from July's $63.22 million. Gross wagering revenue also fell about 9.5% year over year.

The difference highlights how betting volume does not always translate directly into sportsbook revenue. Bettors won $467.75 million during August, while cancelled or voided wagers totaled approximately $3.7 million.

Consequently, the state's revenue performance weakened from July. Nevertheless, the higher tax rate helped North Carolina collect more tax revenue than it would have under the previous system.

Higher Tax Rate Increases State Collections

North Carolina lawmakers increased the sports betting tax rate from 18% to 23% in July. The higher rate applies to gross wagering revenue generated by licensed operators.

As a result, August produced an estimated $11.23 million in state tax proceeds. That amount exceeded the roughly $9.74 million collected during August 2025.

The tax revenue supports several areas of North Carolina gambling policy. Funding reaches state programs, universities, amateur and youth sports, and gambling treatment initiatives. The new tax structure also changed how some funds are distributed among recipients.

Since legal online sports betting launched in March 2024, North Carolina has collected an estimated $308 million in sports betting taxes. Bettors have placed $15.7 billion in paid wagers during that period. Promotional wagers add another $780 million to the total.

Football Season Set to Lift Betting Activity

August's results also set the stage for a potentially stronger finish to 2026. Football season began as the state moved into September, bringing the NFL and college football into focus.

The final four months of the year typically generate some of North Carolina's strongest wagering totals. Along with football, the NBA and NHL provide bettors with a busy sporting calendar during this period.

North Carolina bettors had already wagered more than $4.8 billion through August 2026. That puts the state on pace for another significant annual total after bettors wagered $7.2 billion throughout 2025.

Therefore, August's $520.5 million handle reinforces the market's continued strength. Although revenue declined from July, wagering activity remained well above $500 million. With football now driving demand, the state's sportsbooks could see another busy period through the end of 2026.

Jonathan Rodriguez
Jonathan Rodriguez

Jonathan is an avid basketball fan, and is often looking forward to the next upcoming NBA season when not checking players' stats during games. He also likes to keep his ears on the ground for the latest rumblings in the online casino industry.

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