What North Carolina Addiction Professionals Need to Know About Recent Gambling Policy Changes By Emeline Smith, APNC A new report from the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS) focuses on the harms of commercialized sports betting in the U.S. and in North Carolina. Below are recent policy updates relevant to that report. Prediction Markets Face Growing Legal Scrutiny A key question surrounding prediction markets is whether sports-related event contracts should be regulated solely by the federal government or whether states also have authority over them. On August 28, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a decision in KalshiEX, LLC v. Assad rejecting Kalshi’s argument that federal law preempts Nevada from applying its gambling laws to sports-related event contracts. That decision conflicts with a Third Circuit ruling earlier this year in KalshiEX, LLC v. Flaherty, adding to the uncertainty over how these platforms will ultimately be regulated. North Carolina Raises Sports Betting Tax + Implements Prediction Market Tax North Carolina’s new state budget increased the tax rate on licensed online sports betting operators from 18% to 23% of gross wagering revenue. The state collected more than $262 million in sports betting operator taxes across 2024 and 2025, while continuing to allocate $2 million annually toward gambling addiction education and treatment programs. The budget also created a 6% tax on prediction markets operating in North Carolina under Commodity Future Trading Commission oversight, including Kalshi and Polymarket. North Carolina became the third state this year to introduce a prediction market tax and the first to explicitly recognize the CFTC’s claim of exclusive regulatory authority over these markets. As a result, prediction markets remain available to North Carolinians ages 18 and older without the same state-level oversight applied to licensed sports betting operators. As sports betting and prediction markets continue to evolve, understanding these regulatory differences is increasingly important for addiction professionals, policymakers, and consumers. Read the full FDPS Sports Betting Report for additional context.
https://apnc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Sports-Betting-Report-FDPS50.pdf
Addiction Professionals of North Carolina Earns Back-to-Back
Gold Bell Seal Recognition
Mental Health America gives APNC a 98% Culture and Wellness score
RALEIGH, N.C. (May 27, 2026) - For the second year in a row, the Addiction Professionals of North Carolina (APNC) has been recognized as a Gold recipient of the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health awarded by Mental Health America. The Bell Seal is the nation’s leading designation for employers committed to prioritizing employee mental health and well-being, with only two in five organizations earning recognition at any level following a rigorous evaluation process and standards.
“We are honored to be recognized as a 2026 Gold recipient of the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health” said Sara Howe, CEO of Addiction Professionals of North Carolina. “At APNC, we are committed to building a workplace where mental health is supported and prioritized, and will continue to invest in our employees by fostering a culture where everyone has the resources and support they need to succeed.”
As a returning Gold recipient, APNC is part of a distinguished group of employers advancing mental health in the workplace. This year, APNC earned a 98% score in the culture and wellness categories, far exceeding eligibility requirements. The culture category evaluates how the organization addresses employees’ well-being, fosters supportive people managers, enforces fair personnel procedures, and promotes professional development. Whereas the wellness category measures how well the organization empowers its workplace mental health champions, promotes awareness, facilitates peer connection, and offers resources that support employees’ whole health.
North Carolina continues to face growing demand for behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment and services. Supporting the workforce behind that care is crucial. APNC’s commitment to employee mental health directly strengthens its ability to support providers across the state by providing them with the training and resources needed to serve their communities effectively. By investing in its own team, APNC is helping build a stronger, more supported behavioral health workforce across North Carolina.
About Addiction Professionals of North Carolina
APNC is the professional trade association for substance use professionals and providers in North Carolina. APNC provides a collective voice for individuals, providers, and the communities they serve, advocating for effective policies, offering technical assistance, and fostering collaboration across the industry. APNC supports the behavioral health frontline workforce through education, advocacy, and innovative programs aimed at improving the health and wellness of North Carolina residents. With a mission to unify the voice of North Carolina’s addiction professionals, APNC is dedicated to promoting research-informed practices, reducing stigmas, and ensuring equitable access to addiction and mental health services for all residents.
https://apnc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/APNC-Bell-Seal-Award-Press-Release-8.17-1.docx https://apnc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/APNC-Bell-Seal-Award-Press-Release-8.17-1.docx
