March Holds Great Returns For Mississippi Sportsbooks

• The betting handle in Mississippi surpasses $50.5 million in March.
• This is a 5.7% increase month over month.
• This is also a 707.4% increase year over year.

JACKSON, Miss. – Sports betting fans in Mississippi were active in March, raising the betting handle and revenue numbers substantially from the February numbers.

The big story is the massive growth seen year over year, as the market bounces back from the shutdowns caused by COVID-19 in 2020.

Mississippi sports betting continues to be a major market, despite not having true mobile betting. Despite this, the state is slow to add any legislation for regulated statewide mobile betting.

Mississippi March Madness

The Mississippi Gaming Commission reports that sportsbooks saw $50,546,885.86 wagered on sports in March. This is a 5.7% increase month over month from the $47 million wagered in February.

Sports betting revenue is also up in March with sportsbooks collecting $5,237,030.51, up 13.7% month over month.

The big boom is the yearly increase, with sports betting revenue up 707.4% from the $640,000 collected from $10.7 million wagered in March 2020. The year-over-year betting handle is also up 370.2%.

Last year dealt with COVID-19 shutdowns which also canceled the March Madness Tournament that year. With March Madness returning in full swing, it’s understandable that betting fans would raise the betting handle so substantially.

No Online No Problem

Mobile betting is extremely limited in Mississippi and despite this, legal sports betting in the Magnolia State continues to be a thriving market.

Lawmakers presented two senate bills in 2021 that would have expanded mobile betting statewide, but both failed in the February 2 legislative session. There are currently no active bills that would bring true mobile betting to Mississippi in either the Senate or the House.

Mississippi’s tune may change, however, as the competition in the market will no longer be in Mississippi’s favor for much longer.

Louisiana passed legislation for legal sports betting in November and could launch in 2021. Tennessee’s market has continued to grow, and they only offer mobile betting.

Eventually, Mississippi’s foothold on the sports betting market in the gulf will be tested. This could very well lead to a true expansion in mobile sports betting in Mississippi.

News tags: Biloxi | Jackson | Magnolia | March Madness | Mississippi | Mississippi Gaming Commission | Revenue | sports betting