North Carolina Sports Betting Sees Slight Dip in Handle but Revenue Climbs in May
While North Carolina’s sports betting handle experienced a modest decline in May, the state’s revenue figures tell a different story, reflecting growth year-over-year. carolina
In May, the North Carolina State Lottery Commission reported a sports betting hold of 11.65%. During this period, gross gaming revenue reached $65.2 million — a respectable 3.33% increase compared to the same month last year and a significant 39.3% jump from April’s figures.
Despite these gains, the May revenue fell short of the record $105.3 million generated in April 2024, which marked the debut of legal online sports betting in the state.
The total amount wagered in May hit $547.8 million in betting handle, supplemented by $14.4 million in promotional wagering, bringing the overall handle to $562.2 million. This figure surpassed May 2024 by 7%, but it couldn’t quite match April’s $570.2 million — a figure that itself was below the state record of $695 million set in March 2025.
The decline in handle translated into a slightly lower hold percentage — 11.65% compared to 12.01% in May 2024. Nonetheless, this was an improvement over April’s 8.12%, indicating a more stabilized market.
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The commission estimates monthly tax receipts at approximately $11.7 million, marking one of the highest monthly totals since January’s impressive $13.4 million.
While specific operator performance data remains undisclosed, key players such as FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and Fanatics continue to operate within the North Carolina market, contributing to its evolving landscape.
In summary, May’s figures reflect a resilient market with increasing revenue and stabilizing betting activity, even as the overall handle experiences slight fluctuations.
