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Strong monthly performance marks significant recovery from July downturn as state demonstrates market resilience
RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina’s sports betting market demonstrated strong resilience in August 2025, generating $54.1 million in gross wagering revenue and marking a substantial recovery from the previous month’s challenging performance.
The August figures, released by the North Carolina State Lottery Commission, represent a remarkable 60.1% increase compared to the same period in 2024 and a dramatic 138.3% improvement from July 2025’s record-low results.
Market Activity Shows Healthy Growth
Player wagering activity reached impressive levels during the month, with paid wagering handle totaling $463.8 million. When combined with $14.8 million in promotional wagers, total handle for August reached $478.7 million, representing a 29.2% increase both year-over-year and month-over-month.
The state’s hold percentage climbed to 12.86% in August, significantly outperforming the 9.1% recorded in August 2024 and the 6.13% reported in July 2025. This improvement in hold percentage indicates more favorable outcomes for operators during the period.
Financial Performance Details
Player returns from sports betting activities totaled $420.6 million for the month, while cancelled or voided bets accounted for $4 million. The state collected $9.7 million in tax proceeds from August betting operations.
North Carolina’s legal sports betting market features several major operators, including FanDuel, DraftKings, Fanatics, ESPN Bet, Bet365, and BetMGM, though individual operator performance data remains confidential under state regulations.
Market Outlook
The August performance demonstrates the North Carolina sports betting market’s ability to recover from periodic downturns and maintain growth momentum. The state launched its legal online sports betting operations in March 2024, establishing itself as a significant player in the expanding U.S. sports wagering landscape.
The strong August results position North Carolina favorably as the market continues to mature and attract both operator investment and consumer participation.
