Mississippi Could Be State to Watch for Online Gambling Developments
The state of Mississippi is known for many things – its Gulf Coastline, its lowlands, and its proud Southern traditions. Another thing for which Mississippi is often noted is its casino industry.
Now, as online gambling has already been regulated in three states – those being Delaware, New Jersey, and Nevada – with many more considering it, there are some who believe that Mississippi might be on the verge of looking into regulating some form of online gambling.
Golden Nugget to roll out iGaming in other states
According to local news station WJTV Channel 12, being that one of the state’s most prominent casino properties, the Golden Nugget in Biloxi, also has locations in Nevada and New Jersey, it is not a far stretch to imagine that the company may be a driving force behind getting real-money Internet betting legalized in Mississippi, as well.
In Nevada, where only online poker has been legalized to the exclusion of other forms of Internet wagering, only one site, Ultimate Poker, is so far operational. New Jersey online gambling, which will be more comprehensive than in the Silver State, is expected to launch at the end of November.
Success of industry in those states to prove as test case for the rest of the nation
In those states, the Golden Nugget’s parent company, Texas-based entertainment venture Landry’s (whose explorations into selling its New Jersey casino we detailed last week), plans to launch real-money online gambling web sites.
Surely the eyes of Mississippi legislatures, not to mention the Gulf Coast casino industry, will be on the newly regulated markets as test cases for just how profitable the U.S. online gambling market could potentially be.
Industry analysts are already predicting that the industry could generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue in the states where it is offered. As state and local governments remain stymied by budgets still left decimated by the recession and the lingering weak economy, online gambling is beginning to look like a viable option for states around the country.
Legislation slated to be introduced; has failed before
Back in Mississippi, State Representative Bobby Moak told the media that he intends to re-introduce legislation in the upcoming term that seeks to legalize online betting in the state. The industry would be taxed at five percent and, as in Nevada and New Jersey, any outfit seeking to be licensed by state gaming regulators must be linked to an existing land-based casino in the state.
Moak has twice before brought forth such a bill, only to see his attempts defeated due to Republican opposition to introducing Internet betting to the state. Moak remains determined however, and has said that he believes that aside from the potential to generate new revenue, iGaming could bring the benefit of added tourism to the state.
