North Carolina’s Prediction Market Tax Plan
North Carolina is advancing a new tax on prediction markets within a broader gambling tax proposal. Latest legislative actions include a 6% tax imposition on net trading fees from state transactions. This move positions North Carolina as another state looking to profit from these markets, although no new state oversight framework is introduced. Current structures remain federally regulated by the CFTC, much like counterparts in Illinois.
Expansion of Gambling Tax in North Carolina
The budget does not only focus on prediction markets. It also suggests increasing the tax on online sports betting from 18% to 23%, indicating broader gambling tax reforms. Interesting provisions include allowing gambling losses to be deducted from state income tax returns, aligning North Carolina with other states offering similar benefits to taxpayers. Final legislative approval is pending for these changes.
New Jersey’s Approach to Prediction Market Taxation
In New Jersey, lawmakers have refined their approach by proposing a 9% surtax on prediction market incomes, departing from earlier comprehensive regulation plans. Regulatory aspects, initially akin to sportsbook laws requiring licensing under the Division of Gaming Enforcement, have been excluded. The focus remains on taxation, following a legal injunction that supports federal jurisdiction over event contracts.
Legal and Regulatory Landscape
The advancing state initiatives reflect a broader trend towards utilizing gambling as a revenue source. These developments occur amidst ongoing legal challenges over federal regulation of sports event contracts, highlighting the complex interplay between state and federal jurisdictions.

