Mississippi’s sports betting revenue experienced a significant slump in March, dropping 32.0% to $3.4 million from the $5.0 million recorded in the same month last year. This decline appeared despite sports fans wagering nearly as fervently as before, with the handle decreasing only slightly by 4.7% to $44.5 million from the previous year’s $46.7 million.
The lackluster revenue performance in March, however, did mark a substantial 47.8% increase over February’s $2.3 million revenue in the current year. And, in terms of betting activity, the month-on-month handle rose sharply by 41.7%, compared to $31.4 million staked in February this year.
Mississippi’s coastal casinos continued to dominate the sports betting scene in March. They drew in $30.2 million in bets, which translated into $1.9 million in revenue. Basketball emerged as a popular choice, attracting $20.2 million in wagers and contributing $343,648 to revenue. Parlay cards, though, beat basketball in revenue, turning $4.0 million in bets into an impressive revenue of $728,221.
In the central region of the state, sports enthusiasts placed $8.9 million in bets at casinos, generating a revenue of $1.0 million. Here again, basketball reigned supreme in the betting stakes with $4.5 million, however, as with the coast, parlay cards overshadowed with a higher revenue yield of $584,612 from $4.0 million in bets.
The northern casinos saw a total handle of $5.5 million, from which they carved out a revenue of $468,058 for March. Basketball led the charge by drawing $3.7 million in bets, accounting for $249,668 of the revenue.
Notably, March concluded the period of a retail-only market for sports betting in Mississippi. In a step towards digital transformation, Caesars Entertainment launched its mobile sports betting app at the Harrah’s Gulf Coast Hotel & Casino, which is now permitting bets through the Caesars Sportsbook Mississippi app, albeit only when the bettor is physically present at the Harrah’s Gulf Coast. This location has been operating a retail Caesars Sportsbook since 2018.
The current set-up in Mississippi requires players to stay within casino premises to place mobile bets, a restriction adhered to by prominent online operators such as BetMGM, linked with MGM Resorts International’s Beau Rivage Casino.
However, the horizon of sports betting in Mississippi could be on the cusp of change with the introduction of HB 774, a bill designed to permit mobile betting anywhere within the state lines, proposing 26 licenses linked to commercial casinos. Having cleared the house on February 1, the bill moved to the senate on February 5. Yet, as time ticks away with the legislative session due to end on May 5, its future hangs in the balance.
This shifting landscape illustrates the evolving nature of sports betting markets and the push towards mobile accessibility. While Mississippi’s revenue figures from March showcase a decrease year-on-year, the enthusiastic engagement from bettors — especially in basketball and parlay card betting — signals a market with strong underlying demand, poised for potential growth should the legislative framework permit broader mobile wagering opportunities.
