North Carolina betting rebounds as state results diverge

North Carolina’s mobile sportsbooks reported $65,164,722 in gross wagering revenue for September 2026, up from $48,990,555 in August, as total paid and promotional wagers reached $718,178,752. Official September reports from Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey showed different revenue trends, with gains in Michigan’s adjusted receipts and Pennsylvania’s taxable revenue contrasting with a year-over-year decline in New Jersey.

North Carolina’s total included $691,320,220 in paid wagers and $26,858,533 in promotional wagers. Players received $647,929,872 in winnings, while canceled or void wagers totaled $5,084,158. The North Carolina State Lottery Commission reports those categories separately, distinguishing betting activity from the revenue retained by licensed operators.

Estimated state tax proceeds reached $14,987,886 for September. North Carolina applies a 23% tax to gross wagering revenue, which includes promotional credits and is measured before deductions for operating expenses, fees, or taxes. The General Assembly increased the rate from 18%, effective July 7, for revenue received on or after that date.

For July through September, the opening three months of fiscal 2027, the commission reported total wagering of $1,804,997,771. Gross wagering revenue for that period reached $177,370,849, with estimated tax proceeds of $40,255,976. The figures cover activity reported by licensed interactive sports wagering operators.

The commission cautioned that its monthly aggregates are preliminary and may change when operators submit their final tax reporting. “Final revenue amounts that operators report to the North Carolina Department of Revenue could be adjusted,” the September report states.

Michigan and Pennsylvania gain as New Jersey declines

Michigan’s online sports betting handle reached $544.8 million in September, increasing 64.9% from August. Online sportsbook gross receipts totaled $55.5 million, while adjusted gross receipts were $24.89 million. The latter increased 2.9% month over month and 88.2% year over year. These sports betting figures form part of the broader Michigan September online gambling results, which also included internet casino activity.

Pennsylvania reported $798,743,169 in combined retail and online sports wagering handle, down 6.09% from September 2025. Despite the lower wagering total, taxable sports betting revenue increased 50.45% to $44,737,408. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reported $16,105,467 in sports wagering tax revenue for the month.

Online sportsbooks accounted for $40,335,840 of Pennsylvania’s taxable sports wagering revenue, with retail locations contributing $4,401,568. Valley Forge Casino Resort reported the largest total among the licensees listed, at $15,769,542, followed by Hollywood Casino at the Meadows with $12,617,049. Pennsylvania’s figures are reported on a taxable basis and should be distinguished from the gross revenue measures published by North Carolina and New Jersey.

New Jersey’s casinos, racetracks, and their partners generated $77.0 million in sports wagering gross revenue, a 14.3% decline from $89.8 million in September 2025. The detailed report recorded $72,902,240 from online sportsbooks and $4,081,003 from sportsbook lounges. Online sportsbook revenue fell 18.8% year over year.

Through September, New Jersey’s year-to-date sports wagering gross revenue stood at $748.4 million, down 6.3% from $798.5 million in the corresponding 2025 period. Its monthly figures cover both online and land-based sports wagering, while the North Carolina and Michigan figures above cover mobile or online operations.