What Is the Latest on Sports Betting in Mississippi

I received this email, "It’s a Whole New Ballgame! Sports Book Coming Soon!," from Boyd since I've played at both Sams Town Tunica and IP. What can you tell us about this development?

Here's what Anthony Curtis wrote in his coverage of the changeable situation of sports betting nationwide in the August Las Vegas Advisor (written in late July):

"So far things have gone as expected. Following the mad dash of Delaware and New Jersey, the other states that were poised to move haven’t yet. For example, despite being cleared to offer sports betting on July 20, no wagers have been taken in any of Mississippi’s casinos as this issue goes to press. Currently 13 of 28 casinos in the state have applied for permission to operate a sports book and are reportedly scrambling to create temporary betting areas. Betting windows in Mississippi are almost certain to be open some time this month, but other states look to be moving more slowly.

"The main action has been among the operators, as everyone is jockeying for position. MGM has made deals with Boyd Gaming and European bookmaking giant GVC Holdings. FanDuel has partnered with Tioga Downs in New York and has announced plans to produce sports betting TV shows. DraftKings has hooked up with Resorts in Atlantic City and del Lago in New York. Churchill Downs is working with the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City.

"This month figures to see more action, as they all try to get up and running for football."

Since A.C. wrote the above three weeks ago, a number of Mississippi casinos have opened sports books. The rest are hoping to open by Labor Day weekend and the official start of the NFL and Southeastern Conference football.

Meanwhile, we have a new GamblingWithAnEdge.com blog called Captain Jack on Sports Wagering. Jack is a long-time professional sports bettor and observer of the sports betting scene. He follows developments closely and reports on the growth of sports betting throughout the U.S. and the world, as well as some of the opportunities it brings for players. Definitely click on the link if you're at all interested in the legal spread of gambling on sports.

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Aug-23-2018

Hush yo mouf chile

The only problem with sports betting in Mississippi is that it's in Mississippi. I've been to the Gulf Coast twice, in April and October, and each time, the weather was stifling. Imagine what it's like now. Everybody seems to move more slowly in Mississippi, and who can blame them. You don't wan't to work up a sweat there.
One compensation is that the food in the South is incredible. That even goes for the casino buffets. No wonder everyone there weighs 400 pounds.
I don't know if Tunica has improved lately, but when I was there, it was the Atlantic Shitty of the South--a narrow strip of glittering casinos bordered by a blighted, impoverished wasteland. I can certainly see Tunica attracting a lot of new customers if they can bet on football--it's within a day's drive of much of the South and Midwest.

O2bnVegas Aug-23-2018

Why bad mouth the South?

Whoa, Kevin, that's a lot of stereotyping you heap on the South in general and Mississippi in particular.  Where did you experience the Gulf Coast?  This senior southern belle lives in the Mid South, where weather is almost as hot as Las Vegas (and more humid). Biloxi is comparably an oasis of mild weather and great people.  Do we "move more slowly", really?  Some generalization here, I think.

Nobody goes to Tunica for shopping or night life, but it is close enough to Memphis for that.  And speaking of Memphis, anyone who thinks Las Vegas has good BBQ, well, I'm so sorry.  Memphis has everywhere in the world beat by miles on BBQ.  But I digress.

Question of the Day - 23 August 2018

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