A new era of Mississippi sports betting is officially underway.
To anyone who thinks we're referring to the launch of online sports betting in Mississippi, we apologize for the false flag. That's a separate matter. However, this latest development does suggest that gambling operators are preparing for the day when mobile wagering is allowed.
The development in question: International Game Technology PLC (IGT) and Palace Casino Resort in Biloxi, Mississippi have announced a new partnership that will see IGT PlaySports™ technology power most of the retail sports betting at the casino.
What are the terms of this agreement? How will the Palace Casino implement IGT PlaySports technology? And what does the future hold for legal sports betting in Mississippi? We get into all this and more below.
Full Details of Mississippi Sports Betting Partnership with IGT PlaySports Technology
The folks over at IGT released a statement explaining their new partnership with Palace Casino and how it will work. The most pertinent details can be seen below:
"International Game Technology PLC ('IGT') announced today that its award-winning IGT PlaySports™ technology is now powering retail sports betting at Palace Casino Resort in Biloxi, Miss. Palace Casino Resort guests now have the option to visit the CONTACT Sports and Race Book to place a range of pre-game and in-play wagers at the venue's four walk-up betting windows or via the IGT PlaySports-powered sportsbook's four self-service betting kiosks. Palace Casino Resort is also leveraging the services and expertise of IGT PlaySports' trading advisory team. Palace Casino Resort also plans to leverage IGT PlaySports technology to power on-premise mobile sports betting once all regulatory approvals are met."
Essentially, this is an attempt to help streamline the wagering process at Palace Casino while also experimenting with specialized bet types. The IGT Kiosks are fully automated, so they needn't be monitored by a person, beyond any maintenance. The user interface is also supposed to speed up the transaction process relative to the time spent at traditional cashier windows.
It remains to be seen how IGT will assume control of on-site mobile sports betting at the Mississippi casino. Our best guess is that they will roll out an application in partnership with Palace Casino that can be downloaded on your mobile device. Of course, any application of this kind will need to meticulously use geo-tracking software to ensure transactions can only be placed while on-site at the Palace Casino. Missouri online sports betting isn't yet legal, so those limitations are non-negotiable and will likely play a role in whether an IGT app passes regulatory screening.
Granted, a hypothetical IGT mobile betting app could allow users to build their transaction slip from anywhere and then submit their ticket once they arrive on Palace Casino grounds. We have seen other mobile apps function similarly across other states that don't yet allow online sports betting. Again, though, this is just our best guess. We'll have to wait for further details on IGT's plans to power mobile sports bets at the Palace Casino. And it could be a while before we have any concrete updates. Both IGT and the Palace Casino will likely want to see how the kiosks fare before transitioning into the next phase of their partnership.
Is There a Timeline for Online Sports Betting in Mississippi?
Inquiries into the future of Mississippi online sports betting have naturally followed news of IGT's entry into the retail gambling market. With that said, there is nothing new to report.
Though the best online sportsbooks in the United States would love to crack the Mississippi market, retail sportsbooks remain highly protective of their territory. They fear the addition of corporate online operators will eat into their market share, a concern that has been reiterated every time the subject is approached during legislative meetings. This stance has been reflected in the scant few big-company partnerships signed throughout the state. To date, BetMGM is the only mainstream sportsbook that has linked up with retail locations.
Allowing IGT to develop an on-site sports betting app could signal shifting tides. And as optimists will routinely point out, Mississippi was among the first to offer legal sports betting in the USA after the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act all the way back in 2018. Still, that move was more about capitalizing on untapped revenue streams. For now, opposing online sports betting is about protecting that revenue stream.
As always, those in favor of online sports betting are hopeful the issue could be addressed at the next round of legislative meetings, which should begin in January 2024. But most aren't holding their breath. Mississippi has reported more ebbs and flows in their month-over-month sports betting handles this past year. As a result, they are expected to be even more protective of the retail sports gambling business.
Many will point out that between licensing fees, taxes and expanded reach, online wagering could actually drive up Mississippi sports betting revenue. That's certainly an argument select officials will make in 2024. Whether it's successful is a different story. History suggests The Magnolia State is content to stick with their on-site gambling model. So while everyone eventually expects Mississippi to join the growing throng of places with online wagering, the current evidence does not suggest that transition will be made anytime soon.
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