The Mississippi Gaming Commission has reported a 27.6% year-on-year rise in sports wagering revenue in August, as the US state’s handle more than doubled.
Revenue in August amounted to $3.7m, up from $2.9m in the same month last year, while the figure also represented a 184.6% month-on-month improvement on $1.3m in revenue posted in July this year.
Player spending also jumped 103.5% year-on-year to $40.5m, and a month-on-month rise of 412.7% compared to $7.9m in July, suggesting that the market is continuing its recovery from the shutdown of the state’s casinos caused by the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).
Growth came amid the return of several major league sports leagues, including Major League Baseball, which started its season in late July, while the National Basketball Association resumed its campaign on July 30.
Coastal casinos were again the primary source of sports betting income, with the region generating $2.3m in revenue during August, up 27.8% year-on-year.
These casinos also proved to be the most popular with consumers, with player spending reaching $23.1m, an rise of 77.7% on last year and representing more than half the total amount wagered during the month.
Basketball was the main focus for players at coastal casinos in August, with total stakes standing at $10.9m and casinos generating $780,804 in revenue. There was also high interest in baseball, where handle reached $6.2m and revenue $704,324.
Northern casinos were responsible for $757,045 in revenue, up 22.6% on last year, while player spending at these facilities also rocketed 171.1% to $12.2m.
Again, basketball was the most popular sport, with some $6.8m wagered in August, leading to $171,548 in revenue. However, baseball betting generated the most revenue for casinos, which took $340,278 from $2.8m in bets.
In terms of central casinos, revenue here stood at $679,341, an increase of 55.9% on last year, while the sports betting handle for this region climbed 116.7% to $5.2m in August.
Though basketball betting was the highest in the state, with $2.3m in wagers resulting in $206,838 in revenue, parlay cards spend stood at $1.7m and led to casinos generating $352,303 in revenue.