September was a massive month for sports betting markets throughout the country, and that trend should continue for the rest of 2023. There are a number of states in the South that are missing out on millions of dollars as they aren’t able to get online betting up and running.
Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi are all without legal online sports betting, but that could ultimately change in 2024 and beyond. Progress has been made in all three states, but nothing appears to be imminent at this time.
Here is a look at where things stand in each state.
Florida Sports Betting is a Mess
The Seminole Tribe in the state of Florida has things in place to get sports betting up and running, but it’s waiting for the court system to make a decision. Battles are taking place at both the state and federal level, and it has continued to be a mess without much clarity.
The United States Supreme Court has denied a stay request by West Flagler & Associates, making sports betting legal again in the state. That allows the Seminole Tribe the opportunity to launch at anytime, but that isn’t likely to happen.
Seminole Tribe leaders want to wait until there is no threat of shutting down again, but West Flagler & Associates can make an appeal yet again. There is also an ongoing court case in the state of Florida, and that has complicated things even further.
The US Supreme Court also left open the possibility that West Flagler & Associates can make a new argument in an appeal. Things appear to be as unclear as they ever were in Florida, even though online sports betting is technically legal at this time.
Georgia Looks Primed for 2024
It has been a long battle to get sports betting legalized in Georgia, and there have been several failed attempts. All of those efforts could pay off next year though as many lawmakers believe that a bill will pass next year.
Lawmakers in Georgia can’t figure out if they want to include or exclude casinos and horse racing tracks, and that is something that must be settled. Online sportsbook companies and professional sports teams in the state have all been lobbying hard for this new industry.
While there is plenty of optimism heading into 2024, there was similar optimism heading into this year. Georgia could face even more pressure to get a sports betting bill passed if Florida actually launches online sports betting for good.
This is a state with a big sports culture, and there are enough professional sports teams to support the industry.
Mississippi Looking to Expand Industry
Mississippi already has sports betting, but all of those wagers have to be placed on the property of a casino. Since online betting is much more popular than retail sports betting, it has kept the state from seeing much in the form of revenue or handle.
The Mobile Online Sports Betting Task Force met this week to discuss the possibility and likelihood of getting online sports betting legalized. There are a number of obstacles standing in the way, but it’s going to be on the mind of lawmakers heading into 2024.
There are several major opponents to online sports betting in Mississippi, and the casinos in the state are included in that group. Mississippi was actually quick to legalize sports betting as the first bets were placed all the way back in August 2018.
