In the month when the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup, North Carolina experienced its largest year-over-year handle increase ever.
Key Takeaways
- The Hurricanes are the first major N.C. professional or college team to win a title since wagering went live in the state in March 2024.
- The NBA Finals and World Cup also helped produce the 10th straight $500-million handle.
- Revenue fell by 6.8% compared to the previous June.
The North Carolina State Lottery Commission reported on Thursday that the seven online sportsbooks generated $589.6 million in wagers in June, a 36.1% spike from the previous year’s $433.2-million handle. It’s only the second time Tar Heel State operators have eclipsed a 30% increase.
All six Stanley Cup Final games were played in June, and the Hurricanes became the first major professional or college team from North Carolina to win a championship since sports betting launched in March 2024.
Also helped by the NBA Finals and World Cup, June’s betting handle stayed above $500 million for the 10th consecutive month.
| N.C. Sports Betting | Handle | Revenue | YoY rev. change |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | $589,604,507 | $54,140,105 | -6.8% |
Revenue dips
Despite the Hurricanes’ six-game victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in the Cup Final, online North Carolina sports betting operators still posted a respectable 9.2% hold, just the second single-digit win rate recorded in the last 12 months.
The $54.1 million in June revenue was down 6.8% and was the lowest monthly profit since July 2025. June’s $18.8 million in promotional spending was 50% higher than the same month in 2025 but $2 million less than the month of March Madness.
Bettors won $530.3 million, well above the $372 million they took home last June. There were over $5.2 million in canceled or voided bets, one of the highest totals ever in North Carolina.
Tax growth
FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Fanatics, Caesars, theScore Bet, and bet365 paid a combined $9.7 million to the state. The Tar Heel State has generated $71.7 million year-to-date, nearly $11 million more than the first six months of 2025.
That differential will likely grow even more next summer. Gov. Josh Stein recently signed a new state budget that increases online operators’ rate from 18% to 23%. North Carolina will also tax prediction markets 6% but won’t require trading exchanges designated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to receive a state license.
