North Carolina Sports Betting Hits Record $686 Million in September
The start of the NFL season and a surge of promotional offers from operators propelled North Carolina sports betting to a new monthly record in September, with total wagers surpassing $686 million. The figure included about $32 million in promotional bets, according to data published by the North Carolina State Lottery Commission.
The total narrowly beat the state's previous record of $685 million set in March 2025, while paid wagers reached $654 million, second only to March's $667 million. Since North Carolina sports betting became legal in March 2024, bettors have placed more than $10 billion in total wagers, including $9.8 billion in paid wagers.
The NFL's early kickoff in early September and the arrival of Tar Heels football coach Bill Belichick have helped boost the month's vigorous activity. Promotional betting, backed by North Carolina sportsbook promos, was also the busiest it has been since last September, when $37 million was generated.
Through the first quarter of the current fiscal year, which began on July 1, North Carolina's paid wagering revenue is tracking 21% higher than during the same period last year. The state taxes gross wagering revenue at 18%, which brought in over $12 million in September, higher than the legislature's estimate.
Sports betting has generated over $10 million in tax revenue in 10 of the 19 months since its launch, reaching a high of $19 million in April 2024. The revenue goes toward UNC System sports (except for UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State), youth sports throughout the state, major event funding, and the state's general revenue.
Lawmakers have debated changes that would double the tax rate to 36% and expand school eligibility, though no new budget has been approved.
Younger bettors driving rise in gambling helpline calls
As North Carolina celebrates record betting figures, state officials are also warning about rising problem gambling. The North Carolina Problem Gambling Helpline responded to over 8,100 calls in the 2024 fiscal year, an 11% increase from a year earlier, according to data presented by state program administrator Amanda Winters last month.
Winters said that for the first time, sports betting has overtaken the lottery as the top reason for calls, followed by casinos. Analysis showed that sports bettors contacting the helpline were typically younger, aged 18 to 34, and often developed issues within a year of starting to gamble.
Winters added that sports bettors were less likely to seek treatment but more inclined to communicate via text or online chat. Half of all calls related to sports betting came from concerned parents, compared with 25% in non-sports betting cases.
She called for a stronger warning about gambling risk sooner, pointing to how 20% of adults who played non-stakes online games later went on to play real-money gambling. Winters called for a stronger emphasis on digital media education and emotional understanding to better protect younger North Carolinians from gambling harm.
