In April, Mississippi’s sports betting handle registered at $31.8 million, marking a 10.4% decrease from the same month in 2022 when the handle reached $35.5 million. Furthermore, this figure represented a significant 31.9% drop from the handle recorded in March 2024, which stood at $46.7 million.
Steady Revenue Figures
Mississippi’s sports betting revenue, on the other hand, remained relatively stable. In April, the revenue reached $4.3 million, slightly surpassing the $4.2 million generated in the same month of the previous year. However, it fell by 14% compared to the revenue achieved in March 2024, which stood at $5 million.
Regional Breakdown of Revenue
When examining the regional distribution of sports betting revenue, it becomes apparent that coastal casinos reported revenue of $2.5 million from a handle of $19.1 million. Central casino venues contributed $1.2 million to the overall revenue, with a handle of $8.3 million. In the northern region, casinos generated $603,430 in revenue from bets amounting to $4.4 million.
Basketball Takes the Lead
Basketball remained the most popular sport among Mississippi bettors, with a total of $13.5 million in bets. Notably, $7.9 million of these bets were placed at coastal casinos.
Choctaw Breaks Ground on New Casino
In addition to the sports betting scene, Choctaw Resort Development Enterprise recently initiated a groundbreaking ceremony for a new $25 million travel plaza, located in Louisville, Mississippi, on South Church Street. The travel plaza, set to open in the summer of 2024, will feature an impressive 18,000 square feet of space.
This facility will offer visitors access to 150 slot machines, a sportsbook lounge, 3,000 square feet of retail space, a restaurant, and fueling stations catering to both commercial and passenger vehicles.
Despite the recent fluctuations in the sports betting handle, the Mississippi gaming landscape continues to evolve, offering a blend of gaming and entertainment options for its residents and visitors.