North Carolina kicked off 2025 with the third-most profitable month since online sports betting launched last March.
The North Carolina State Lottery Commission reported that the eight mobile operators produced $74.5 million in revenue from a $646.9 million handle in January.
Coming off the second-lowest revenue ever in December, this was a welcome sign for state officials, who collected $13.4 million in operator taxes.
The 11.5% hold on the second-best handle since the football season began in August was up nearly six points from December.
The amount wagered rose 3.6% compared to December, but operator-friendly results from the NFL and college football playoffs resulted in a 108.8% month-over-month increase.
| N.C. Sports Betting | Handle | Revenue | Tax (estimated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | $646,942,020 | $74,530,133 | $13,415,424 |
Less customer-friendly
A month after claiming a record $590.9 million in winnings, North Carolinians won back $568.5 million from FanDuel, DraftKings, bet365, BetMGM, ESPN BET, Underdog, Fanatics Sportsbook, and Caesars.
North Carolina's legal online sports betting operators spent $23.6 million in promotional credits, up from December’s $16.1 million. It’s the most sportsbooks spent since September’s $37 million.
The $3.9 million in canceled or voided wagers is the most since April 2024’s record of $5.3 million.
First football season
North Carolina was the only new U.S. market to offer Super Bowl wagering compared to last year, which should bring another significant tax boost in February. Early reports from sports betting operators paint a rosy picture for the house.
That will also complete North Carolina's first football season. From September through January, the Tar Heels State generated $3.1 billion in wagers, and operators generated $307 million in revenue.
Since March 2024’s launch, North Carolinians have bet more than $6 billion.
The eight sportsbooks have made over $650 million while the state has hauled in $113 million in tax revenue.
