Mississippi’s sports betting scene took a slight dip in October as players wagered $48.6 million, down from the previous month. While the state’s coastal region continued to dominate with the highest betting contributions, players in central and northern Mississippi also showed strong interest, particularly in football. However, the lack of progress on mobile sports betting legislation leaves the state reliant on retail betting.
Coastal Region leads the way
The coastal region maintained its dominance, accounting for nearly $31.9 million of the state’s total sports betting handle. Football was the most popular sport, with coastal bettors staking an impressive $18.2 million on the game. Parlay cards also attracted significant interest, with $4.4 million wagered in this category.
Meanwhile, central Mississippi contributed $11.3 million in wagers, with parlay betting leading the charge at $4.9 million, followed closely by $4.2 million on football. In the northern region, players placed $5.4 million in total bets, with football dominating at $2.4 million.
Taxable revenue hits $2.9 million
Despite the dip in total betting activity, Mississippi’s retail sports betting generated close to $2.9 million in taxable revenue for October. The consistent revenue underscores the importance of sports betting for the state’s economy, even as stakeholders debate the future of mobile wagering.
While sports betting remains a lucrative market for Mississippi, the state is still grappling with the absence of online sports betting. During the last legislative session, both the Senate and the House passed versions of the Mobile Sports Wagering Act. However, concerns about the impact on brick-and-mortar casinos stalled progress on the proposal.
Without mobile sports betting, Mississippi remains at a disadvantage compared to neighbouring states that offer convenient online betting options. Industry analysts believe that the addition of mobile betting could significantly increase the state’s handle and revenue, but the legislative deadlock persists.
Football remained the sport of choice across all regions in Mississippi. From the coastal region’s massive $18.2 million in football bets to the $2.4 million staked in the northern region, the sport continued to captivate bettors throughout October. Parlay bets, however, gained traction in central Mississippi, becoming the top betting category for the region.
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