TLDR
- North Carolina sportsbooks handled nearly $590 million in bets during June 2026, a 36.1% jump from June 2025.
- The Carolina Hurricanes won their second Stanley Cup title in June, driving heavy hockey betting activity across the state.
- Sportsbook revenue fell 6.8% to about $54.1 million as payouts to bettors rose sharply.
- The state collected close to $9.7 million in betting taxes for June, bringing 2026 totals to roughly $71.7 million.
- Starting in July, North Carolina raised its sports betting tax rate from 18% to 23%, with new funding going to college athletic departments.
North Carolina’s online sports betting market had its busiest June since mobile wagering launched in the state. Bettors placed close to $590 million in wagers during the month. That figure is more than $156 million higher than June of last year.
The jump of 36.1% marked the largest year-over-year increase since the market opened in March 2024. Summer months are usually slow for sportsbooks. This year was different.
A Hometown Championship Drives Betting Activity
The biggest reason for the surge was local. The Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup in June, closing out the playoffs with a 16-3 record.
The team beat the Vegas Golden Knights in six games to capture the franchise’s second NHL title. Every game of the final took place in June, giving bettors many chances to wager on the series.
The win was the first major championship for a North Carolina team since the state’s online betting market began. State regulators do not break down betting data by sport or team. Still, the timing lines up closely with the record month.
June also brought other firsts. Bettors could wager on FIFA World Cup matches for the first time since mobile sportsbooks arrived in the state. The NBA Finals also took place during the month, adding more betting options during a period that is typically quiet.
Bigger Payouts Cut Into Sportsbook Profits
More betting did not mean more profit for operators. Gross wagering revenue came in at about $54.1 million for June. That is a 6.8% drop from the same month last year and the lowest monthly total since July 2025.
Bettors won an estimated $530.3 million during the month. That is up sharply from about $372 million in June of last year.
The payouts pushed the sportsbook hold rate down to 9.2%. That is only the second time in the past year that hold dropped into single digits. Many bettors who backed the Hurricanes through the playoffs likely cashed winning tickets.
Operators also spent more to attract customers. Promotional credits reached about $18.8 million for the month, roughly 50% higher than a year earlier. Heavier promotions combined with larger payouts kept profits down even as betting volume climbed.
North Carolina still collected a solid amount in taxes. The state brought in close to $9.7 million in sports betting taxes for June. That brings total 2026 collections to about $71.7 million so far.
Starting in July, the tax rate on sportsbooks rose from 18% to 23%. Governor Josh Stein signed the change into law as part of the state budget.
The new law also changes where the money goes. Athletic departments at the University of North Carolina and North Carolina State will now receive a share of betting tax revenue for the first time. Other Football Bowl Subdivision schools in the state can also qualify, with yearly payments reaching up to $5.8 million starting in 2027.
Industry groups have said the higher tax rate could lead operators to scale back promotions in the future. For June, though, the state’s betting market closed out its most active month since legal wagering began, driven by a championship run, a new global tournament, and the NBA playoffs.
