While there is interest in all sports as far as wagering in the state of Mississippi there is one sport that stands far apart, above, and beyond the rest as a massive draw to sportsbook gambling. College Football is king of the South when it comes to sports and that has certainly proven to be the case when it comes to sports gambling. Let’s now take a look at how sports betting works in the Magnolia State.
How Does Sports Gambling Work in the State of Mississippi?
Legalized sports gambling began in the state of Mississippi on August 1, 2018. The Mississippi Gaming Commission is responsible for oversight and regulation of the state’s sports gambling industry. You must be 21 years of age or older to bet on sports in the state of Mississippi. There are 23 land based traditional brick and mortar casinos that offer sports gambling in the state of Mississippi.
Is there Mobile or Online Sports Betting in the State of Mississippi?
Although the state of Mississippi allows for online and mobile sports betting it is very limited at the present time. The only way to bet online or with a mobile device on sports in the state of Mississippi is when you are actually inside of a casino that offers a sportsbook. While there is support for greater access to mobile and online sports gambling it is not going to be available any time soon. There is a taskforce that has been in place to work on implementing greater online and mobile sports gambling access in the state of Mississippi.
Based on the success of other states that are less restrictive about online and mobile sports gambling, many politicians in the state of Mississippi realize that revenue is going to be severely limited until it is offered in full. For example, in states such as New Jersey sports betting revenue is roughly 80 percent based on mobile and online wagering. Thus, in Mississippi, there have been some bills submitted to get the obstacles removed on the mobile and online sports wagering front.
Most believe that the revenue is too great to ignore and eventually the state of Mississippi will loosen restrictions on mobile and online sports wagering out of competitive necessity.
Another factor in the favor of mobile and online sports betting opening up in the state of Mississippi is the fact that that the industry has vastly outperformed original projections. There is a strong market for it.
What Casinos Offer Sports Betting in the State of Mississippi?
The following casinos offer sports gambling with their sportsbook brand in parentheses: 1st Jackpot Casino of Robinsonville (William Hill), Ameristar Casino of Vicksburg (William Hill), Beau Rivage Resort & Casino of Biloxi (MGM), Bok Homa Casino of Heidelberg (IGT), Boomtown Casino of Biloxi (William Hill), Fitz Casino Hotel of Robinsonville (Foundation Gaming Group), Gold Strike Casino Resort of Robinsonville (MGM), Golden Moon Hotel & Casino of Philadelphia (IGT), Golden Nugget of Biloxi (Golden Nugget), and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino of Biloxi (Hard Rock)
What Sports and Teams are Popular in the State of Mississippi?
College Football’s Southeastern Conference is the best in the sport with far and away the most passionate fans. College Football is deeply woven into the fabric of southern culture and that is certainly the case in the state of Mississippi. A major factor in the success of Mississippi’s success with sports gambling is that it borders four SEC states. Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Alabama have massive college football fan bases and this is reflected in the wagering handle at Mississippi sports books.
Within the state the Ole Miss Rebels and Mississippi State Bulldogs are members of the SEC with rabid do or die fan bases. The Arkansas Razorbacks, Louisiana State Tigers, Tennessee Volunteers, Alabama Crimson Tide, and Auburn Tigers all fans of their schools living in the state of Mississippi or crossing the border to bet on those schools.
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