Mississippi Casino Revenue Declines 8.3% in February

Mississippi’s casino industry experienced an 8.3% decline in revenue in February, with total gross gaming revenue amounting to $189.5 million. The latest data from the Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC) shows a drop from the $206.6 million generated during the same month in 2024. Despite the year-over-year decline, February’s revenue figures were 2.2% higher than January’s.

Slot Machines and Table Games See Decrease

Slot machines remained the dominant source of gaming revenue in the state, generating $159.4 million. However, this represented a 7.9% decline from the $173.1 million recorded in February 2024. Meanwhile, table games contributed $25.4 million, reflecting an 11.7% decrease compared to the $28.7 million from the previous year.

The Mississippi Gaming Commission divides casino revenue into three regions: Coastal, Northern, and Central. Coastal casinos recorded the highest revenue, bringing in $122.5 million for the month. However, this marked a 6.8% decline from February 2024’s $131.4 million.

Northern casinos followed with $40.3 million in revenue, a 14.6% drop from the previous year’s $47.3 million. Central casinos reported the largest decline, generating $26.6 million, which was 17.9% lower than the $32.4 million recorded in February 2024.

Sports Betting Handle and Revenue Decline

Mississippi’s retail sports betting market also saw a decline in February. The total betting handle fell 2.6% year-over-year, dropping from $31.3 million in February 2024 to $30.5 million this year. The decline in betting activity also impacted taxable revenue, which decreased 43.6% from $2.3 million to $1.3 million.

Breaking down sports betting by region, Coastal sportsbooks ed for the majority of wagers, handling $20.6 million. Basketball betting led with $9.5 million, followed by football at $4.8 million. Central casinos recorded a total betting handle of $6.5 million, with basketball wagers at $2.9 million and football at $2.8 million. Northern casinos saw $3.5 million in bets placed.

Casino Tax Increase Bill Fails to Advance

In addition to declining revenues, Mississippi’s gaming industry faced legislative challenges. A bill that aimed to increase the state’s casino tax rate did not advance. House Bill 1881, which proposed raising the tax from 12% to 16%, was ultimately not taken up for further discussion and died on the calendar. If ed, the bill would have significantly increased tax contributions from casino operators in the state.

Despite the decline in revenue across gaming and sports betting, the Mississippi casino industry remains a significant contributor to the state’s economy. The February figures indicate the impact of economic conditions and consumer trends on the industry’s performance.

Source:

‘’Sports Wagering Report’’, msgamingcommission.com, February 2025