Bettors in the Tar Heel State can’t get enough action.
Key Takeaways
- October’s handle is the highest ever, breaking the previous record set in September.
- North Carolina became the ninth U.S. state to post an $800 million handle month.
- Operators’ second-highest gross profit led to over $14 million in tax revenue for the state.
The North Carolina State Lottery Commission reported on Wednesday that $811.4 million was wagered in October, shattering the handle record set a month earlier by $125 million. North Carolina sports betting spiked 32.5% year-over-year and became the ninth state to post a handle of over $800 million in a single month.
It’s the ninth time that wagering in North Carolina has reached at least $600 million since online sports betting went live in March 2024.
October is one of the busiest months for sports. The MLB playoffs and World Series collide with a full month of NFL and college football. The NBA and NHL also begin their regular seasons. Over $1.5 billion has been wagered since football season began in late August.
| N.C. Sports Betting | Handle | Revenue | Tax (estimated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2025 | $811,436,254 | $78,145,630 | $14,066,214 |
| October 2024 | $612,046,491 | $48,659,761 | $8,758,757 |
Profits increase
North Carolina’s eight online sportsbooks generated $78.1 million in gross revenue during October, a 60.7% year-over-year spike. It’s the second-highest monthly profit ever produced in the Tar Heel State behind April 2024’s $105 million.
North Carolina operators combined to make at least $70 million for the fifth time. October gross revenue was up 17% compared to September.
Bettors won back nearly $729 million, their highest grossing month ever in North Carolina. Sportsbooks produced a 9.6% hold, up from the 8% win rate in October 2024 and nearly equal to September’s 9.7%.
Promotion wagering fell from $32 million in September to $27.1 million in October, while canceled/voided bets rose slightly to $4.3 million.
Big tax month
Huge wagering and revenue led to a great month for North Carolina’s coffers. The Tar Heel State hauled in a whopping $14.1 million in tax revenue.
With an 18% tax rate on operators, North Carolina has made over $100 million in 2025 and over $200 million since March 2024.
