While retail sportsbooks in Mississippi have been a success story, the state has yet to fully embrace online betting. While mobile wagering would take things to a new level, in the short term retail sportsbooks have drawn more visitors to casinos, restaurants, and hotels – a positive for Mississippi. During the calendar year for 2019 that number rose to $370 million, and with the 8% tax rate, netted the state more than $5 million.
During its first full year of operation (August ’18 – August ’19) Mississippi sportsbook handle topped $300 million.
As sports betting operations were still getting set up in 2018, Mississippi managed to take in in more than $150 million in wagers from September – December alone. Prior to legalization a Global Market Advisors study anticipated that the state’s in-person betting handle would be around $180 million per year. Sports betting in Mississippi has outperformed expectations. Retail (terminals) + Mobile (on premises) Mississippi Sports Betting Locations Land Based Casinos Open for Sports Betting This is notable because some state regulations will not currently allow wagering on collegiate events in-state. Most sportsbooks offer wagering on a full menu of professional and collegiate athletic events, including Ole Miss and Mississippi State games. For example the tribal casinos, Bok Homa, Golden Moon, and Silver Star, all a part of the Pearl River Resort, allow mobile wagers while on site via the PRRSports app. “The tax rate on will be 12 percent - 8 percent going to the state, 4 percent local tax, which is the same as every other gaming tax in Mississippi,” Allen Godfrey, Executive Director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission, told Sports Handle.įor the time being, sports betting is allowed only on premises at the casinos, some of which may offer apps, which will only be accessible on premises as well.
By the end of the summer, 20 commercial and two tribal sportsbooks had opened for sports betting. The 22-page document makes no allowance for an “integrity fee” or royalty to be paid out the professional sports leagues.
In June 2018, the Mississippi Gaming Commission’s website rolled out their regulations, covering everything from definitions of sports betting terms to how to pay out wagers.