This would solve a few problems.
WRAL’s Brian Murphy is reporting on the latest North Carolina state budget proposal today, and part of that proposal includes a provision to double the tax rate on sports gambling operators. The budget calls for a lot of that money to be distributed to the athletics departments of each UNC system school.
NC State and UNC would receive the largest shares, by far. Let’s all take a big sip of water and read just how much money we’re talking about.
The budget forecasts that UNC and NC State would receive $24.4 million for the fiscal year that starts July 1 and $31.0 million in the fiscal year that starts July 1, 2026.
Good lord, man, that sweet sweet gambling money would cover the (projected) $20.5 million revenue-sharing pool and then some, which would be significant from a competitive standpoint, especially for NC State. I’m still unclear on whether or not State has been planning to pay out the full amount.
So in a way … my sports gambling is an NIL contribution? I’ve got to double my efforts! Somebody hit me with some big parlay action, our shooting guard needs a new pair of shoes!
There is a modest requirement attached to the money: that State and UNC schedule a home-and-home with each UNC system school in both men’s and women’s basketball between now and 2040. That includes the schools that are in Division II.
Here is the new language. This is what UNC/NC State must do to get the gambling money. https://t.co/DxC7cRtnBt pic.twitter.com/pw3TA83hAF
— Brian Murphy (@murphsturph) April 15, 2025
I suppose we’ll be able to live with the hit to strength of schedule.