As Mississippi lawmakers debate the potential growth of playing, a unified voice from each voters and on line casino operators strongly opposes the legalization of on-line sports activities betting (OSB) and iGaming. New polling information and a proper letter from the state’s on line casino business spotlight vital resistance to increasing on-line playing choices within the Magnolia State.
Voters and Casinos Reject Expansion of Online Gambling in Mississippi
In January, the National Association Against iGaming (NAAiG) commissioned polling that reveals widespread opposition amongst Mississippi voters. Nearly 75% of these surveyed (74.2%) expressed disapproval of legalizing cell sports activities betting, significantly once they discovered it could enable statewide betting via smartphones and different units. Opposition to iGaming, which might allow 24/7 entry to casino-style video games, was much more pronounced, with 80.8% of respondents in opposition to it after listening to extra in regards to the proposal.
This public sentiment is echoed by a coalition of Mississippi’s distinguished on line casino operators, together with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians’ Pearl River Resorts, who delivered a letter to state management on January 21. The coalition warned that legalizing OSB and iGaming would undermine billions of {dollars} in capital investments made by the state’s conventional casinos and jeopardize native jobs which have been a fixture of the state’s financial system since 1992.
Economic Concerns and Job Protection
The on line casino coalition raised a number of financial issues of their letter, emphasizing that increasing on-line playing would hurt each the state’s on line casino income and job market. Unlike conventional brick-and-mortar casinos, the place income is reinvested in native economies, on-line sports activities betting would enable out-of-state operators to gather company overhead first, leaving solely a small portion for in-state companions. This shift may lead to vital job losses, significantly within the hospitality sector, as cell betting reduces foot site visitors to bodily casinos.
The coalition additionally criticized the projected monetary advantages of on-line playing. They estimate that on-line sports activities betting would solely generate $11 million in tax income yearly, a determine they think about insignificant in contrast to Mississippi’s $7 billion state funds. They argue that such a minimal achieve will not be definitely worth the threat of undermining the state’s present gaming business and the roles it helps.
Beyond the financial issues, the coalition pointed to public well being points related to the legalization of on-line playing. Research from different states which have legalized OSB reveals troubling traits, together with a 67% enhance in playing addiction-related searches and a 30% rise in bankruptcies amongst low-savings households. States which have adopted on-line sports activities betting noticed a dramatic 372% enhance in irresponsible playing conduct, additional alarming native leaders.
“The people of Mississippi are speaking clearly: they value their communities, their local jobs, and their families more than the minimal tax revenue promised by out-of-state tech companies,” the letter concluded.
Widespread Opposition Across Mississippi
As reported by PR Newswire, polling carried out by the Bradley Research Group for NAAiG additional bolstered these issues. The survey, which reached over 4,200 registered voters, discovered a constant majority opposed to the growth of on-line playing, with 74.2% of respondents rejecting cell sports activities betting and 80.8% opposing iGaming. Opposition was uniform throughout Mississippi’s congressional districts and demographic teams, underlining the statewide resistance to the proposals.
The on line casino operators opposing the growth of on-line playing additionally emphasised their long-term investments in Mississippi. These operators, who personal a mean of 55% of their properties within the state, have a a lot deeper stake within the native financial system than these supporting on-line growth, who personal a mean of simply 22% of their Mississippi-based properties.
The letter additionally highlighted the chance of playing dependancy, noting that states with legalized on-line sports activities betting have seen a pointy rise in drawback playing. The coalition’s opposition is grounded not solely in financial issues but additionally within the potential for elevated social hurt, together with a surge in addiction-related points.
Despite the resistance to on-line playing growth, some lawmakers argue that it may present a much-needed increase to Mississippi’s tax income. However, a comparability with Kansas, which legalized cell sports activities betting in 2022, paints a special image. Despite a three-year head begin, Mississippi’s whole sports activities betting deal with stood at $3.29 billion as of 2023, with gross gaming income (GGR) round $352.6 million. In distinction, Kansas, a equally sized state, reported a complete sports activities betting deal with of practically $8 billion, with GGR of $740.5 million.
Mississippi’s retail sports activities betting business, which launched in 2018, has seen regular development, with the state reporting over $35 million in GGR from retail sports activities betting in December 2023. However, proponents of on-line playing argue that Mississippi may see a income increase comparable to Kansas’s expertise if it expands to cell wagering.
