VICKSBURG, Miss. (WLBT) – In April of this year, the state of Arkansas legalized mobile sports betting across the state, following Louisiana in January and Tennessee in 2020.
This brought the grand total to 21 states with more expected to arrive in 2023.
Mississippi, however, has seen a decline in sports betting revenue, where mobile sports betting is not legalized.
According to Mississippi Gaming Commission Executive Director Jay McDaniel, he says there has been an approximately 20% decrease in sports betting revenue at Magnolia State casinos.
He says the biggest problem a potential bill faces is getting to the legislative floor.
“If he ever gets to the Gaming Committee, we talked about it behind closed doors, it’s really because he didn’t get to the floor, he didn’t get into a committee discussion. If we get to that point, there may be a time when we go in and give our point of view on it, ”McDaniel said.
As of now, the only way to legally place mobile bets in state casinos is to use the BetMGM Sportsbook app.
The problem is that you have to be on the premises of the Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi or the Goldstrike Casino in Tunica, Mississippi.
This is causing several out-of-state players who used to travel to Mississippi to place their bets now sit in their homes and do the same thing. McDaniel explained the possibility of different mobile betting methods for players … if the bill folds.
“With that statute, it would depend on how the legislator structures it,” he said. “Would it be open for all casino operators to put their app out there? Would it be limited to a certain number? I don’t think in any realm we would see BetMGM having its ready, but I think if I saw an account starting to switch, there it would be time for these other operators to prepare theirs. “
One of the main reasons online gambling legislation has not been passed is because Mississippi has 26 casinos that serve as a major tourist attraction. McDaniel says casinos are doing well apart from declining sports betting revenues.
State lawmakers will meet again in January.
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