The state of Mississippi could potentially experience a delay of its sports betting field launch and the reasons for that range from the level of preparation of local venues to give green light of it, to the fact that 22nd is Sunday and many people might be more interested in church activities than in gambling ones. Exactly 30 days after the official approval of the set of rules providing guidelines for sports betting on a state level the state faces a challenging situation suspending the field in the unknown.
About a month ago Mississippi witnessed the official vote of the Mississippi Gaming Commission deciding whether or not to launch sports gambling with the help of the revised regulation. This move was a long-anticipated one, as the community has been working towards the introduction of the regulations in an attempt to boost the local economy and potentially attract more players to the region. Neighboring states have already begun work towards sports betting legalization so it only made sense for Mississippi to put an effort and make things happen as well.
Preparation for this moment has been in progress ever since 2017 when the local authorities made clear their intention to utilize what sports betting has on offer. Back then, HB 967 aimed to start the process slowly, initially legalizing daily fantasy sports activities throughout the state. This paved the way for wagering on sports events once the SCOTUS announced its decision to overturn PASPA.
As previously reported by CasinoGamesPro, the local lawmakers introduced a 21-page document establishing the rules of both horse racing and sports betting field this spring. Ever since it received the approval of the local authorities it became clear that casino venues within the state would have some 30 days to make the needed changes and prepare for its launch in the summer.
Now that the appointed day is closer than ever, casino venues on the Gulf Coast are still contemplating their future operation and none of them has made public a date on which they would be ready for sports betting offerings. However, there are indications that the venues have begun renovation work which would facilitate the new sports books.
Wagering on Sports Events Could Experience Delay
According to the regulation they are supposed to publicly announce the date and have it approved by the Mississippi Gaming Commission staff prior to the start of operation. The overall attitude towards the sports betting field points out that football would be the focus of it, aligning with the upcoming football wave traditional for this time of the year.
The first day of September is set to witness the official start of Southeast Conference football season, whereas 6th September is going to see the official start of the National Football League regular season. This would be the perfect time for sports betting to commence operation and capitalize on the great interest forecasted within the borders of the state. Many of the casino operators have already announced who they are going to partner with once they begin offerings wagering on sports events which is always useful to know in advance.
For example, Palace casino has made clear its intention to partner with international giant William Hill, while casino developer Penn National is expected to remain true to its principles and team up with a third-party supplier. Among the first casino developers to file in their applications for sports betting operation were Palace Casino, Beau Rivage managed by MGM Resorts, Harrah’s Gulf Coast overseen by Caesars Entertainment, Hollywood Casino operated by Penn National, and Boomtown Biloxi.
The timing is also right, as autumn and winter are usually slow seasons not only for the local gambling field but for gaming in general. This year that previously established pace of operation would change and many tourists are expected to make their way towards the state, potentially providing for a significant boost of the local economy. Next week is set to witness more development on the case, which would be closely followed by CasinoGamesPro‘s team.
