FanDuel Strikes Gold In North Carolina And Looking To Go Nationwide: How Sports Betting Is Conquering America By Brody Sorbera

With the NHL and NBA playoffs fast approaching, sports winding down, and our rough economic shape, betting on it might not come across to most Americans' minds. Still, the last few weeks in North Carolina have proven that sports betting is a lucrative business even without football, as FanDuel went live on March 11, well after the Super Bowl; it also helped that North Carolina is a basketball state where wagers on March Madness, especially with NC State’s unexpected run, undoubtedly increased the popularity of making some wagers. 

A report by the N.C. State Lottery Commission reveals that the first three weeks of FanDuel being legal in North Carolina has brought in a total of $659,308,541 of total revenue in just three weeks alone. Also, a lucrative opportunity for the state as they get an 18% tax from all gross wagering revenue and have racked in $66,496,213 tax dollars so far. This is viewed as a massive win for FanDuel and other sportsbooks and a win for the state, but it may come at a cost for the consumer. 

When it comes to betting, you must tell yourself that the house always wins, which is why you see “Gamble Responsibly” plastered over every casino and sportsbook. Still, while some may see this as an opportunity for extra income if you are skilled enough, this may also be viewed as predatory, especially with Americans still dealing with inflation pains. Ironically, FanDuel is having so much success in a large southern market as this is the same South that has a history of being hostile to anything that could be deemed as “immoral.” this is the same South that led the push for prohibition a century ago. Still, the times are changing faster than ever, and with FanDuel bringing in massive tax dollars, you can expect online sportsbooks to be a nationwide phenomenon in a decade.