Stanley Cup, World Cup lead to big betting in June, last month before tax, distribution changes

June was a bigger-than-usual sports month in North Carolina and the world — and it pushed the state’s legal online sports betting numbers to new heights for a summer month.

The Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup and the World Cup, taking place in the United States for the first time in three decades, kicked off with favored teams and star players performing well, typically a boon for bettors.

Sports bettors wagered more than $589.6 million in June — up more than $156.4 million from June 2025. They had one of their best months, too, as operators paid out $530.2 million in winnings. Operators had $54.1 million in gross wagering revenue, their lowest total since August.

Sports bettors have wagered at least $578 million per month — between paid wagers and promotional bets — for 10 consecutive months.

As a result, the state collected less than $10 million in tax revenue for the first time since August. Operators paid more than $142.8 million in taxes with an 18% tax rate in the fiscal year.

Sports betting operators will pay a 23% tax on gross wagering revenue beginning this month, up from the 18% rate that’s been in place since the March 2024 launch of legal online sports betting in North Carolina.

The increased tax rate was included in the state budget passed by lawmakers and signed into law by Gov. Josh Stein.

The budget also changed the formula for distributing that tax revenue. The athletic departments at NC State and North Carolina, for the first time, will receive a portion of sports betting tax revenue. The schools could receive up to $5.8 million annually beginning next year under the new law.

The North Carolina State Lottery Commission, which oversees sports betting in the state, doesn’t release figures on which teams or sports are being bet on, so there is no proof that the Stanley Cup and the World Cup drove the numbers higher.

But the Hurricanes were among the favorites to win the Cup before the season and before the playoffs. Carolina went 16-3 in the postseason en route to the franchise’s second Stanley Cup title, meaning there were plenty of chances for fans of the team to win wagers along the way.

This is the first time North Carolinians have been able legally bet on the World Cup, which is held every four years. The tournament began in June and will end in July. Sports betting numbers for July will be released in early August.

Eleven of the 12 groups were won by the favorites, the United States won its first two games and advanced to the Round of 16 and popular global stars like Argentina’s Lionel Messi, France’s Kylian Mpabbé, Norway’s Erling Haaland and England’s Harry Kane led the tournament in goal scoring, again offering the chance for bettors to capitalize. The four have scored a combined 29 goals.

Messi’s Argentina team will play Spain for the World Cup title.

Sports betting typically slows in June, July and August. In 2024 and 2025, those three months produced the lowest wagering revenue. But June 2026 surpassed May and fell just short of February’s totals.