The Magnolia State Sees a Surge in Sports Betting

Mississippi's sports betting scene has experienced remarkable growth, as the total handle for September 2023 reached an impressive $51.6 million. This represented a substantial year-on-year increase of 19.7% compared to the $43.1 million recorded in the same period last year. The monthly figure also stood at a staggering 141.1% ahead of the $21.4 million total in August this year.

Despite the impressive handle, revenue experienced a slight dip, amounting to $8.1 million, which marked an 8.0% decrease from the $8.8 million recorded in September 2022. However, it's worth noting that this figure was still an astounding 200.0% higher than the $2.7 million generated in August.

Sports betting enthusiasts in Mississippi showed a clear preference for coastal casinos, with a total of $33.5 million in sports wagers and $5.8 million in revenue. Central casinos also saw substantial action, processing $12.3 million in sports bets and reporting revenue of $1.7 million. Northern casinos, while less popular, still attracted $5.8 million in sports wagers, resulting in $698,827 in revenue.

September's surge in sports betting was primarily driven by football, as the new NFL season kicked off early in the month. Bettors placed a total of $19.3 million in wagers on football at coastal casinos, $5.9 million at central venues, and $3.4 million at northern casinos. This strong start to the football season played a pivotal role in the overall success of sports betting in Mississippi.