As extra states add on line casino gaming and sports activities betting, a few of the more-established markets are feeling the pinch, together with the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Despite the American Gaming Association (AGA) just lately reporting the industrial gaming business rising 10% to report income of $66.5 million in 2023, Mississippi went the opposite manner, experiencing a drop of three%.
This marked the second-straight yr of falling income for the state’s Gulf Coast casinos in addition to casinos throughout the state, based on the AGA.
Increased competitors within the northeast has additionally led to an identical financial affect in New Jersey.
Mississippi Numbers Falling
The Mississippi Gulf Coast has lengthy been a preferred spot for gamblers within the south, treating company to an seaside trip and loads of on line casino playing. There are a few dozen casinos positioned in Biloxi, Gulfport, and Bay St. Louis.
The area even featured a pleasant poker scene with early World Poker Tour occasions held in Mississippi and the WSOP Circuit nonetheless repeatedly heading to the state.
As extra states like Arkansas have launched on line casino playing and sports activities betting, Gulf Coast casinos at the moment are going through elevated competitors. That development continued in January, with coastal casinos seeing a drop of $8.5 million in comparison with the identical month in 2023. That carried over statewide with a decline of $21.7 million.
Casino operators have noticed the loss in business, the Clarion Ledger newspaper experiences, particularly to casinos in Louisiana after that state launched reside and on-line sports activities betting in January 2022.
Mississippi legislators at the moment are contemplating authorized on-line betting. However, extra competitors looms as Alabama can also be now contemplating on line casino gaming growth and legalized sports activities betting.
Atlantic City Also Experiencing Increased Competition
New Jersey’s 9 casinos in Atlantic City are additionally feeling the strain from close by competitors. Gamblers can now take their choose of casinos positioned throughout the area together with Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and extra.
“I think Atlantic City is similar to a lot of other markets across the country that are being impacted by cross border and regional competition,” AGA Vice President of Research David Forman stated. “New Jersey is now entirely surrounded by states with a fair amount of gambling and a fair amount of gambling options that have expanded over the past few years.”
The Garden State has additionally provided on-line gaming for over a decade, however now Maryland and New York are additionally contemplating legalization.
