According to the North Carolina State Lottery Commission, operators took $6.6 billion (€6.1 billion/£5.1 billion) in bets during the first 12 months. The commission released an anniversary report describing the numbers from the first year, problem and responsible gambling initiatives, and how legalisation and launch happened.
According to the report, operators collected $713 million in gross gaming revenue (GGR) and paid the state $128 million in taxes. The state charges an 18% tax on GGR.
The numbers fall in line with other states of similar size and situations. North Carolina has a population of 11 million people, several big-time college football and basketball teams, three major professional sports teams and multiple NASCAR venues.
For comparison, in Ohio (population: 11.8 million), the Ohio Casino Control Commission launched operators 1 January 2023. According to OCCC reports, through the first 12 months, digital operators reported $7.4 billion handle and $911.4 million GGR. For the first six months of 2023, operators paid 10% tax, but beginning in July 2023, it rose to 20%. Ohio also has several big-time college basketball and football teams, but it has twice as many pro teams and about 800,000 more people.
Digital sports betting went live in Michigan (population: 10.1 million) in January 2021. In the first 12 months, operators took $3.7 billion in bets and reported GGR of $208.9 million. Michigan digital sports betting is taxed at 8.4%. Michigan was among the first wave of states to begin offering legal digital betting. Michigan’s handle grew to $5.3 billion in 2024. The state has about 1 million fewer people, multiple big-time college basketball and football programs and four professional sports teams.
PG/RG programs, colleges, youth sports benefit
During the legalisation process, North Carolina lawmakers prioritised problem and responsible gambling initiatives. The lottery commission is required to direct $2 million to the North Carolina Problem Gambling Program. Proceeds are used to support a gambling help line, treatment and education. The state also has a voluntary self-exclusion programme.
Some proceeds are also directed to youth sports and universities across the state.
“From the moment we began work, the goals stayed the same: to create a program that protects North Carolinians and raises revenue for our state responsibly,” chief regulatory officer Eric Snider wrote in the report. “The NC State Lottery Commission makes sure that licensed operators provide tools that can empower players to wager responsibly.”
Eight operators are live in North Carolina, where lawmakers approved the enabling legislation in June 2023. The regulator developed rules and vetted applicants in time for a universal 11 March 2024 launch date.
North Carolina is currently the only state in which Underdog offers a sports betting product. Bet365, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, ESPN Bet, Fanatics Sportsbook and FanDuel are also live.
