Legal online sports betting got off to a rousing start in North Carolina with $659,308,541 wagered between the March 11 launch date through March 31.
The North Carolina State Lottery Commission's first official "monthly" report included only a robust three-week period that ranked the state among the best-ever sports betting launches in recent years.
The timing of North Carolina's launch proved to be fortuitous with it coming just prior to the ACC Tournament and March Madness. With more than $659 million wagered, North Carolinians won $590,750,303 on those bets.
Where does North Carolina rank among recent state online sports betting launches?
NC online sports betting launched with eight online sportsbook operators that included:
- Bet365
- BetMGM
- Caesars Sportsbook
- DraftKings
- ESPN Bet
- Fanatics
- FanDuel
- Underdog Sports
The lottery commission's report did not provide sportsbook-specific handle or revenue figures, but North Carolina's overall performance ranks it high among some recent state launches.
| State | Launch Date | First Full Month Handle |
|---|---|---|
| New York | January 8, 2022 | $1,686,263,898* |
| Ohio | January 1, 2023 | $1,090,347,193 |
| North Carolina | March 11, 2024 | $659,308,541 |
| Massachusetts | March 10, 2023 | $584,520,728* |
| Maryland | November 23, 2022 | $497,121,656 |
| Michigan | January 22, 2021 | $301,857,054 |
| Arizona | September 2021 | $291,212,868 |
| Kentucky | September 28, 2023 | $287,976,434 |
| Virginia | January 21, 2021 | $265,778,306 |
| Louisiana | January 28, 2022 | $238,413,596 |
| New Jersey | August 2018 | $183,948,404 |
| Pennsylvania | May 2019 | $35,934,215 |
| Colorado | May 2020 | $25,621,762 |
| Illinois | June 2020 | $8,281,803 |
*Data from first month despite it not being full, as it is comparable to North Carolina's timeline
There are several factors impacting those numbers -- time of year, the pandemic, number of operators at launch, etc. -- but there's no denying North Carolina's launch was among the most successful in the industry.
More than $202 million was wagered using promotional funds, which sportsbooks can not deduct for tax purposes in North Carolina. State law dictates that sportsbooks will pay an 18% tax on gross wagering revenue, which was $66,496,213 in March.
RELATED: ESPN Bet review | FanDuel review | bet365 review | BetMGM review | Fanatics review | DraftKings review | Caesars Sportsbook review
If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Learn more >