Casinos in Mississippi enjoyed a profitable 2021, even setting a new revenue record in the process.
According to the state Department of Revenue figures, coastal casinos generated over $1.6 billion in revenue for the year. As a whole, the Mississippi casino industry brought in almost $2.7 billion in 2021.
Breaking down Mississippi casino revenue numbers
From January to December of last year, casino break down by region looked like this:
- Costal: $1,608,527,271
- Northern: $696,130,936
- Central: $364,528,387
The largest total came in April when casino revenue reached $261,361,076.
The amount brought in by properties in the Magnolia State follows a year in which casinos were forced to close due to the coronavirus pandemic. In 2020, casinos brought in just under $1.8 billion for the lowest combined total since 1995.
Could the expansion of gambling help set other records?
Over the past two years, lawmakers have tried to expand Mississippi sports betting to include online wagers. Unfortunately for residents and customers, each attempt has failed.
Technically online sports betting does exist in the state. However, it can only be done while on casino grounds. But to date, no casinos have mobile sports betting apps.
But for the third time in four years, Rep. Cedric Burnett is aiming to change things. Burnett’s bill, HB 184, filed earlier this year, would allow sportsbooks to accept online wagers from bettors anywhere in the state.
To complicate matters, another bill filed by Rep. Casey Eure would also expand sports betting but, in doing so, create in-person registration. Eure’s bill would also make customers renew their sports betting accounts once every 12 months, which would be the first such rule in the US.
Neighboring Louisiana launched retail sports betting and is on the verge of adding mobile wagers to its expanding portfolio. Tennessee is a mobile-only state, and Arkansas will soon have both retail and mobile sports betting.
With the southern gaming market expanding, Mississippis will soon have to find ways to keep up.
