Two MGM Resorts casinos in Mississippi have applied for mobile wagering licenses
Two MGM Resorts casinos have shown interest in on-site mobile betting, as confirmed by the Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC). During a conversation with Gambling.com, MGC executive director Jay McDaniel said no other casinos have approached him about on-site mobile sports betting services. A new sports betting law could be introduced by early next year.
Only two casinos in Mississippi offer mobile on-site betting
McDaniel said he has no further pending requests and does not even expect them in the near future. Until recently, Gold Strike Casino, which is located in Tunica and owned by MGM Resorts, was the only casino in Mississippi to offer on-site mobile betting services. It is located along the Mississippi River, about 40 miles south of Tennessee.
In early November, Beau Rivage Resort and Casino, which is located in Biloxi, became the second casino in Mississippi to offer a sports betting app to its patrons. According to Magnolia state laws, visitors cannot place mobile sports bets unless they are on the casino premises.
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After allowing its visitors to place bets via mobile devices, Beau Rivage Resort and Casino released a statement saying that casino guests do not need to leave the craps tables, pools, spa or BR Prime to participate in sports betting.
There are currently 26 commercial casinos in Mississippi, 12 of which are located on the Gulf Coast. The Biloxi area includes eight of these casinos, and visitors can only bet on sports at betting shops in the casinos.
McDaniel told Gambling.com that unless the legislature repeals it, off-site mobile sports betting will be banned. As for the newest legislature on mobile sports betting, it will reconvene in Jackson in January. As McDaniel expands, the rules state that visitors can bet on their mobile devices, but only within the confines of a licensed casino.
Legislative amendments will be needed to further regulate mobile betting.
Neighbouring states have recently allowed mobile betting
Louisiana and Tennessee are two neighboring states to Mississippi that allow mobile betting. Tennessee recently approved mobile sports betting and Louisiana approved it this summer. Online sports betting in Louisiana is due to start in 2022 after operators are vetted and regulated.
Another state likely to introduce mobile sports betting is Arkansas. The vote has been set by the State Racing Commission for 30 December. With Arkansas' new regulation, restrictions will be lifted and punters will be able to bet on mobile and desktop devices from anywhere. If legalised, off-site sports betting could begin in February 2022.
However, there is one topic on which there is some controversy in Arkansas. There is debate over whether to include language in the law that would force reputable online bookmakers such as FanDuel and DraftKings to share at least 50% of their mobile sports betting revenue with their casino partners.
In most cases, the operators will return 5 to 15% of this revenue to the casinos. Casinos in Arkansas believe that most of the revenue should remain in the state. On the other hand, online operators have said that they should negotiate with casino partners to come to an agreement on revenue sharing that is not provided for by the state.