- North Carolina recorded $578 million in sports betting handle in May of 2026, the lowest figure of any month so far this year.
- Handle slightly increased from May of 2025, up from $562 million the previous year.
- The state earned $11.6 million in tax revenue from sports betting, while operators tallied $64.3 million.
RALEIGH, N.C. – The monthly release of sports betting handle and revenue in North Carolina yielded disappointing results for the state, posting its lowest total handle in nine months.
The $578 million in sports betting handle was the lowest figure for sports betting sites in North Carolina since August of 2025, but still produced $64.3 million in revenue for sports betting operators and $11.6 million in tax revenue for the state, which is in line with other months that saw higher handles.
This was a slight increase from the $562 million handle from May of 2025, but a slight decrease in revenue for both sportsbooks and the state, which sat at $65.2 million and $11.7 million respectively.
In each of the past two years, there has been a steep decline in revenue in months following March, largely due to a high betting volume on March Madness. In 2026, Duke and UNC each made the tournament, as well as High Point making a deep Cinderella run, which garnered plenty of betting action.
One of the driving forces of sports betting handle at legal sports betting sites in the state has been the Carolina Hurricanes’ deep playoff runs in each of the last two NHL seasons, playing 10 games in the month of May in 2025 while playing nine postseason games this year en route to a historic 12-1 start.
College baseball and softball teams from North Carolina are accustomed to playing in May, including UNC baseball and Duke softball each reaching the NCAA Tournament in 2026. Otherwise, it is a slow month sports-wise in North Carolina, as the Hornets and Panthers are out of commission.
