Gold Strike Casino launches new Mississippi mobile betting app

Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica, Mississippi, is the latest venue in the state to add mobile betting to its offering.

In a press release last Thursday, the MGM Resorts-owned facility announced the launch of a mobile wagering platform to complement its physical sportsbook, BetMGM Book Bar & Grill at Gold Strike. Just like the retail sportsbook, Gold Strike’s mobile app will bear the BetMGM brand, which is a joint-venture between the casino owner MGM Resorts and UK-based gambling giant Entain.

Thanks to this latest addition, sports fans and gambling enthusiasts visiting the property will be able to place a variety of wagers from the convenience of their mobile devices, as well as access the operator’s M Life Rewards loyalty program at the touch of a button. Some of the betting markets available on the platform include parlays, futures, in-play, and a host of pre-game bets like money line, totals, and point spreads.

However, the service will only be available to players located within the premises of the casino since Mississippi sports betting laws only allow for online wagering at licensed properties.

In addition to Gold Strike, the BetMGM app is also available at the state-of-the-art Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi, which is also owned by MGM Resorts International.

BetMGM ‘thrilled’ with Gold Strike app launch

Commenting on the Mississippi launch, BetMGM said that it is “thrilled” to enhance its retail offering at Gold Strike with the BetMGM app, noting that the new addition would allow sports fans visiting the casino to engage with their favorite teams and earn loyalty rewards on their mobile devices.

“We’ve had great success with the BetMGM Book Bar & Grill at Gold Strike and are thrilled to complement our retail offering with the launch of the BetMGM mobile app in Mississippi,” said Adam Greenblatt, BetMGM CEO.

“Sports fans at MGM’s world-class Tunica resort can now use their mobile devices to engage with the teams they love, while earning rewards for their gameplay.”

MGM’s Senior Vice President of Marketing and Operations for Southeast Region, Brandon Dardeau, added that the app would not only offer in-play wagering opportunities but would also allow patrons of the casino to place wagers from any location within the facility.

“Sports fans now have a seamless betting experience. Tennessee users who have become accustomed to using BetMGM can use it on property at Gold Strike,” Dardeau said.

“Not only does the BetMGM app allow for in-game betting, but bets can also be conveniently placed from anywhere on the casino floor, including BetMGM Book and Grill Bar.”

What next for Mississippi sports betting?

The Magnolia State was among the first to offer regulated sports betting when the SCOTUS repealed the 1992 PASPA law in May 2018. The state legalized the market in June 2018, setting the scene for commercial casinos and tribal-owned gaming venues to add the vertical to their offering.

Mississippi’s first legal bets were placed at Gold Strike Casino in Tunica and its sister facility, Beau Rivage in Biloxi, on August 1, 2018, and it is reported that more than 20 casinos had regulated sportsbooks by the end of the first month.

Just like other forms of gambling, the state’s sports betting industry is overseen by the Mississippi Gaming Commission.

There are now 27 retail sportsbooks in Mississippi where patrons can place wagers legally, with prominent names like BetMGM, Golden Nugget, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, William Hill, and IGT being some of the companies licensed to offer bookmaking services in the state.

However, despite being one of the first states to launch regulated wagering post-PASPA, Mississippi continues to lag behind other states like New Jersey since its sports betting industry is still limited to retail.