North Carolina’s legal betting market hits $811M in October 2025
North Carolina’s legal sports betting market reached new heights in October, with bettors betting more than $811 million, the highest monthly total since online betting was launched in March 2024. The figure includes $784 million in paid bets and the rest in free or promotional wagers offered by licenced operators, which include some of the top-rated online sportsbooks globally.
The milestone marks the first time the state has crossed both the $700 million paid wager mark and the $800 million overall threshold in a single month. It surpasses the previous record of $685 million set in March 2025, highlighting the rapid expansion of North Carolina’s gambling sector within just 18 months of operation.
Officials say the surge was largely driven by a packed sporting calendar. October saw the conclusion of a dramatic seven-game World Series in baseball, alongside the peak of the NFL and college football seasons and the start of the NBA and NHL regular seasons. With such a busy line-up, sports fans had plenty of reasons to engage with betting platforms.
Sports-packed October fuels growth
According to data released by the North Carolina State Lottery Commission, bettors have now placed more than $10.5 billion in paid bets and over $11.2 billion in total wagers since the market opened. The total amount spent on paid bets in October was up by more than a third compared with the same period last year.
Bettors were paid nearly $729 million in winnings during the month, also a record since launch. Tax revenue from operators reached $14 million, the second-highest monthly figure on record. In total, the state has collected more than $205 million in taxes from sports betting operators since legalisation.
North Carolina currently imposes an 18 percent tax rate on gross wagering revenue. While the state Senate previously voted to double that rate to 36 percent as part of a new budget proposal, the measure has yet to be adopted. The House of Representatives opted to keep the rate at 18 per cent, citing concerns that higher taxes could discourage operator investment. For safe options with trusted operators in the US, this list offers recommended online casinos for US players.
NBA scandal likely to affect revenue
However, revenue in November may fall as sports betting scandals have recently shaken professional and college sports across the country, including the NBA, Major League Baseball, and college basketball. Federal indictments have accused several players and coaches of manipulating performances to profit from illegal betting schemes. Regulators in North Carolina, however, stress that the state’s system remains robust and tightly supervised.
PENN Entertainment, one of the eight licenced operators in the state, currently operates under the ESPN BET brand but is preparing to rebrand as theScore Bet in December. All ESPN BET customer accounts will be automatically transferred as part of the transition.
Analysts say the October figures reaffirm North Carolina’s position as one of the fastest-growing betting markets in the United States. With major sporting events such as the NFL playoffs and the Super Bowl ahead, the state’s wagering totals are expected to rise even further in the coming months.
The fuse is lit. In Mexico City, 01–03 Sept 2026, North America meets Latin America. SiGMA North America welcomes 4,000 delegates for three days of deals, insight, and startup sparks. Serious insight. Real deals. Book your spot.
