Mississippi is seeing a surge in demand for legal online sports betting, with nearly 10 million checks for legal sportsbooks in five months, a 77% year-over-year increase. While sports gambling is legal in the state, it is limited to brick-and-mortar casinos, leaving Mississippians wanting mobile options. A reworked bill in the House’s Gaming Committee aims to bring mobile gaming to the state, but faces opposition in the Senate.
Senators like David Blount express concerns that mobile gaming could harm the state’s casino industry, but fail to see the potential tax revenue and economic growth it could bring. Mississippi’s sports gambling market is already declining, with a 14% drop in taxable revenue from 2023 to 2024. Estimates suggest that legalizing mobile gaming could generate significant tax revenue, potentially quadrupling what the state currently earns from all gaming.
As citizens increasingly turn to online options, Mississippi’s lawmakers are urged to prioritize legalizing mobile sports betting to meet the demand and boost the state’s economy. The “have app, will travel” trend is seen as a driver for other states to legalize sports gambling, highlighting the potential loss of income for Mississippi by not expanding access to online sportsbooks. Ultimately, meeting consumer demand for mobile gaming could be key to revitalizing Mississippi’s sports gambling industry and boosting tax revenue.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
