North Carolina Wagers Reach Over $646.9 Million in January 2025

Our best sports betting sites operating in North Carolina have reported on last month's sports betting financials, and they're showing some positive news.

Bettors in the Old North State wagered more than $646.9 million last month, a $20 million increase compared to wagers generated in December. Likewise, revenue in the North Carolina sports betting market reached $74.5 million, an increase of 108% from $35.7 million the previous month. 

Paid wagering revenue totaled $623.3 million, up by $10 million month-over-month, and payouts to bettors generated $568.4 million in winnings, a decline from $590.4 million. Music to the ears of our best North Carolina sports betting apps.

North Carolina taxes

The North Carolina State Lottery Commission currently taxes sportsbook operators 18% of gross wagering revenue, as required by state regulations. This tax is then distributed to various state-funded organizations, with $2 million annually going toward the Department of Health and Human Services to provide gambling education and treatment programs. 

Following this, $1 million is given to the North Carolina Amateur Sports program annually to help expand opportunities in youth sports, up to $300,000 goes toward collegiate athletic departments in 13 state universities, and $1 million is put towards the North Carolina Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission which provides grants of $5,000 per team.

The remaining proceeds are distributed: 20% is divided evenly among the 13 state universities, 30% is allocated to the North Carolina Events, Games, and Attractions fund, and 50% is put toward the state’s General Fund. 

Last month, North Carolina sportsbook operators paid $13.4 million in taxes, doubling the taxes paid in December. Similarly, since sports betting was legalized on March 11 of last year, $118 million in taxes have gone toward state-backed funds. 

North Carolina hit $6 billion before Super Bowl

Super Bowl 59, which saw the Kansas City Chiefs face off against the Philadelphia Eagles, marked the first Super Bowl in which residents in North Carolina could legally bet in-state since online betting was legalized on March 11. And residents certainly took advantage of North Carolina sportsbook promos in the lead-up.

In less than 11 months, bettors in the Old North State have generated $6 billion in wagers ahead of the Big Game at the beginning of February. In tangent with total bets, $5.6 billion has also been produced in paid wagers, the amount made by players in North Carolina. Throughout 2024, $4.7 billion was also generated in winnings to bettors. 

GeoComply reports increase

The anti-fraud and geolocation compliance technology company GeoComply reported a 14% increase in active player accounts for its sportsbook clients during last Sunday’s Super Bowl game. That will likely result in solid February numbers for North Carolina as well.

The group associated the increase with the recent crackdown on offshore operators made by state regulators. In states that had published cease-and-desist orders against illegal operators, GeoComply had found customers using American-based operators were twice as high.