Mississippi is one of the most progressive states in the US when it comes to gambling laws, with many forms of the activity being legal, from dozens of retail casinos to slot machines and social games. There have even been moves in recent months for the state to pass a bill that would legalize online sports betting. In the first quarter of 2024, the Magnolia State has seen a huge revenue increase in comparison to the latter end of 2023.
Reports from the American Gaming Association (AGA) have revealed that casinos across the region have brought in $622.1 million in the first three months of the year, which is an increase of almost $20 million. As well as the obvious positive financial gain that gambling brings to MS, as of December 2023 nearly 42,000 jobs were supported thanks to the industry. As the market grows, and other forms of gambling are introduced, this number will only continue to rise.
It’s not only Mississippi that is presenting these upward trends; the AGA also shared that gaming institutions brought in a record-breaking $17.67 billion in 2024 so far in the USA, which shows a continuation of the year-on-year growth for the 13th quarter in a row! These numbers are very impressive but do not show the entire picture.
The revenue recorded does not account for any profit made from real money online casinos, offshore options, or no KYC casinos, many of which can be found at business2community.com/gambling/best-no-id-verification-casinos. There are hopes among many in Mississippi that all forms of gambling will soon become legal, namely online casinos and sports betting. When this time comes, there are no doubts that the AGA will be reporting exponentially higher figures.
At the beginning of the year, steps were taken to introduce online betting to MS, with the Mississippi Mobile Sports Wagering Act. The act would have made the practice legal, on the condition that any mobile operators were to partner with a pre-existing retail gambling institution. The House passed the bill 97-14, but has died in conference.
Whilst it is clear that approving the act would pave the way for a new mobile gaming industry, there is hesitancy amongst lawmakers. Advocates are continuing to lobby for the change to be made, and for Mississippi to follow in the footsteps of states like New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
A closer look at the Mississippi casino industry reveals what’s going well, and what could do with some improvement. Bricks-and-mortar casino gaming continued to go from strength to strength, as did table games and slot machines. The growth was modest, which was to be expected by the AGA, as it was pointed out that January had been “sluggish” and “impacted by severe weather”.
Again, this led proponents of online casino games to argue for legalization, as those who did not want to travel to a physical casino could still have engaged in their favorite games from the comfort of their own home, and generated revenue whilst doing so. If we look at all of the US states with legal online gambling, they also all have legal online (and in-person) sports betting. In-person sports betting is currently permitted in Mississippi, which gives hope to many that the next logical step will be the legalization of digital sports betting and casinos.
There are currently 29 casinos in the state of Mississippi, and if online gambling was passed, each mobile operator would partner up with one of those retail locations. The financial impact and the economic boost this would result in would be monumental.
Not only are online options more convenient and accessible, but they provide just as immersive and exciting an experience to users as their physical counterparts. Graphics have evolved dramatically in the past five years alone, resulting in lifelike gameplay and even live dealers and multiplayer options in the majority of online casinos.
Overall, the casino industry in Mississippi is booming and shows no signs of slowing down. However, the revenue would increase significantly if online casinos were legalized by lawmakers. The benefits for mobile operators, retail casinos, and users alike are clear, but first the state embraces the change that it would bring about.
With the current state of play in Mississippi, the likelihood is that this progression will still take a year or two to be implemented. Luckily, in the meantime, there are still options for MS residents. Offshore online real money casinos are available, which offer a range of bonuses, sign up offers, and fast withdrawals.
