Mississippi sports wagering revenue drops in staggering percentage

VICKSBURG, Miss. (WLBT) – In April earlier this yr, the state of Arkansas legalized cellular sports activities wagering state-wide, following Louisiana again in January, and Tennessee again in 2020.

This introduced the grand complete to 21 states with extra anticipated on the best way in 2023.

Mississippi, nonetheless, has seen a lower in sports activities wagering income, the place cellular sports activities betting is just not legalized.

In line with the chief director of the Mississippi Gaming Fee Jay McDaniel, he says there’s been a couple of 20% lower in sports activities wagering income throughout the Magnolia State casinos.

He says the most important downside a possible invoice faces is making it to the legislative ground.

“If it had been ever to get to the Gaming Committee, we talked about behind closed doorways, it’s often because it hasn’t gotten to the ground, it hasn’t gotten right into a committee dialogue. If we get to that time, there could also be a time the place we are available in and provides our perspective on it,” stated McDaniel.

As of proper now, the one approach to legally place cellular wagers in state casinos is by utilizing the BetMGM Sportsbook app.

The catch is, you should be on the premises of both the Beau Rivage On line casino in Biloxi or the Goldstrike On line casino in Tunica, Mississippi.

That is inflicting a number of out-of-state gamers who used to journey to Mississippi to put their bets, to now sit of their properties and do the identical factor. McDaniel defined the potential of totally different strategies of cellular wagering for gamers…if the invoice passes.

“With that statute, it might rely upon how the legislature buildings it,” he stated. “Wouldn’t it be open to each on line casino operator to place their very own app on the market? Wouldn’t it be restricted to a sure quantity? I don’t suppose in any realm would we simply see BetMGM they’ve theirs prepared, however I believe in case you noticed a invoice begin to move, there could be time for these different operators to get theirs prepared.”

An enormous motive why on-line betting laws hasn’t handed is because of the truth that Mississippi has 26 casinos that function a serious vacationer attraction. McDaniel says casinos are doing properly, except for declining sports activities wagering income.

State lawmakers will reconvene in January.

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