North Carolina Betting Revenue Hits Record Low in July, But Handle Shows YoY Growth
By Liam O'Brien · Contributor1 min read
- Gross sports betting revenue in North Carolina fell to a record monthly low of $22.7 million in July, a drop of 60.9% from June.
- The sharp decline in revenue is attributed to a quiet summer sports calendar, a typical seasonal trend in the US market.
- Despite the low revenue, the market’s underlying health appears stable, with total wagering handle growing by 8.8% year-on-year to $370.4 million.
- The state collected $4.1 million in taxes from sports betting activities during the month, based on a gross revenue hold of 6.13%.
- The North Carolina State Lottery Commission does not publicly release performance data for individual operators.
North Carolina’s regulated sports betting market has reported its lowest-ever monthly gross revenue total, generating just $22.7 million in July. However, a closer look at the data from the North Carolina State Lottery Commission reveals that underlying market engagement remains healthy.
While revenue was down a steep 46.2% year-on-year, this was largely due to a lower operator hold percentage during a quiet month. A more telling metric, the total amount wagered (handle), actually grew by 8.8% compared to July of last year, reaching $370.4 million. This suggests that while operator profits were down, player activity continues to show a positive long-term growth trend.
The Impact of the US Sports Calendar
The sharp month-on-month and year-on-year drop in revenue is a clear illustration of seasonality in the US sports betting market. July is traditionally a slow period, with the sporting calendar dominated by Major League Baseball (MLB). The absence of a local MLB team in North Carolina to drive wagering interest further contributed to the lull.
The year-on-year comparison is also skewed, as July 2024 was part of the market’s initial, high-interest launch period. The market’s performance is expected to rebound strongly with the start of the NFL and college football seasons in the coming months.
By the Numbers
According to the official report from the North Carolina State Lottery Commission:
- Gross Wagering Revenue: $22.7 million (down 60.9% from June 2025).
- Total Handle: $370.4 million (up 8.8% from July 2024).
- Promotional Wagers: $8.8 million.
- Gross Revenue Hold: 6.13%.
- State Tax Collected: $4.1 million.
It’s important to note that North Carolina is one of the US states that does not provide a public breakdown of handle or revenue by individual licensed operators, making a detailed analysis of market share impossible.
