Sports wagering proceeds top inaugural year – with 2 months to go

(The Center Square) – Estimated tax proceeds from sports wagering this fiscal year have eclipsed North Carolina’s entire first full year.

And there’s two months to go.

April’s take of more than $11.6 million – the fourth lowest of the 10 months so far – pushed the total to $121.4 million. The inaugural full year was $116.5 million, with a daily average of better than $319,000.

This year’s daily average ticked just before $400,000 following a strong six months run that brought in better than $84 million – or 69% of this year’s proceeds.

For perspective on state revenue, the individual income tax is the state’s largest revenue source and its increase in fiscal year 2025 was more than $637 million. Sales and use tax generate an estimated $5 billion annually. The corporate income tax and franchise tax are other streams topping the sports wagering windfall.

The calculation for state coffers is 18% of the gross wagering revenue. That sum is the amounts received by interactive sports wager...