Thanks to the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s basketball tournament, Mississippi’s 12 Gulf Coast casinos posted their second-highest monthly revenue in March. Gaming commission figures indicated gamblers lost $212 million in March, up 5 percent from $201 million in March 2018; that figure includes $8.4 million in sports betting revenue at casinos. Coastal casinos’ revenue rose 13 percent to $124 million in March.
Mississippi Gaming Commission Deputy Director Jay McDaniel said, “They saw really good numbers associated with March Madness.” He said it’s obvious NCAA basketball led to the increased numbers, with casinos statewide up nearly 4 percent in the past 12 months. “We figure that it’s got to be sports betting,” he said.
Casino managers and state officials also believe sports bettors are spending money in casino hotels and restaurants and partaking in other gambling. Golden Nugget Biloxi General Manager Chett Harrison said, “Sports betting is certainly contributing the most to our increased revenue, but it is hard to put actual numbers on the non-gaming components. We do know that with those who are sports betting are staying the night, gambling and eating at our hotel and casino.”
The 15 Mississippi River casinos posted a 4 percent decline to $88 million, but that follows seven consecutive months of increases. Revenue at the river casinos rose 2 percent over the last 12 months, reversing a longtime downward trend.
But pressure from expanded gambling in Arkansas is not easing off, especially in Tunica County where Caesars Entertainment closed the Tunica Roadhouse casino in January and Penn National Gaming announced earlier this month it will close Resorts Casino Tunica on June 30.
