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