North Carolina degenerates threw down more than $7 billion in legal sports bets during 2025—the state's first full calendar year of regulated online sports betting. And the state collected over $132 million in tax revenue for its trouble.

The Quick Hit

• What happened: NC sports betting handle hit $7.27 billion in 2025
• The damage: December alone saw $651 million in wagers and $14.6 million in tax revenue
• Why you should care: North Carolina is now a top-tier sports betting market
• The move: If you're in NC, you're part of one of the country's hottest betting scenes

The Numbers Are Stupid Good

North Carolina launched online sports betting in mid-March 2024, so 2025 was the first full year with apps running from January 1 through December 31. And the Tar Heel State absolutely crushed it.

The final tally: $7.27 billion in total handle. That's roughly 6% higher than 2024's numbers, which only captured about nine months of action.

December was the fourth consecutive month that monthly betting exceeded $650 million statewide. The state collected more than $14.6 million in sports betting tax revenue just in December alone.

Since launch, North Carolina bettors have wagered more than $12 billion in legal online sports betting.

Where Does the Money Go?

Licensed operators in North Carolina pay an 18% tax on gross wagering revenue. That $132+ million in tax collections gets spread around:

A portion goes to the state health department for gambling addiction education and treatment efforts. Good—we need to take care of our fellow degenerates who go too deep.

Additional funds hit two statewide youth sports organizations that distribute grants. Some goes to a major events fund. Athletics departments within the UNC System get a piece (except NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill, for some reason). Whatever's left flows into the state's general fund.

The Competition Is Real

Seven licensed online sportsbooks operate in North Carolina. The usual suspects are all fighting for market share: DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and others battling it out with promos and odds boosts.

The state joins the upper tier of U.S. markets by handle. New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York remain the powerhouses, but North Carolina has proven the appetite for legal betting in the Southeast is real.

Looking Ahead

The 2025 numbers bode well for 2026. Conference championship weekend is here with the Patriots facing the Broncos and the Rams meeting the Seahawks. March Madness is around the corner. The World Cup kicks off this summer.

North Carolina degenerates have plenty of opportunities to push that handle even higher.

Meanwhile, other Southern states are watching closely. Georgia is back at it again with sports betting legislation, though the path remains rocky. Texas keeps teasing. The Southeast is slowly but surely coming around to the reality that people are going to bet on sports whether it's legal or not—might as well collect some tax revenue.

The Bottom Line

$7.27 billion wagered. Over $132 million in tax revenue. And that's just year one.

North Carolina has officially joined the big leagues of American sports betting. For those of us placing action in the Tar Heel State, the infrastructure is solid, the options are plentiful, and the state is happy to take its cut.

Now let's see what 2026 brings.