The Mississippi Gaming Commission reported that the state’s casinos generated in August $209.6 million in Adjusted Gross Revenues (AGR), showing a slight month-on-month increase of nearly 2% from the $205.5 million posted in July. August year-on-year revenues increased by over 5% compared to the $198 million AGR earned by MS casinos in August 2023. 

August revenues mark a four-month streak of Mississippi’s casinos generating revenues above $200 million. January and April were the only two months this calendar year below that threshold, with revenues of $180.2 million and $192 million, respectively. 

Revenue Growth by Region

Mississippi is home to 30 state-regulated casinos along the Mississippi River and Gulf Coast, three Class III tribal casinos operated by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and a fourth casino planned to open in Jones County. For revenue-reporting purposes, state-regulated casinos are divided into three regions: Coastal, Central and Northern.

The largest portion of revenues was generated by casinos in the Coastal region, with revenues of $128.5 million and $134.1 million posted for August 2023 and 2024, respectively, seeing year-on-year growth of 4.25%. In a distant second comes the Northern region, with revenues of $45.1 million and $47.5 million posted for August 2023 and August 2024, respectively, seeing year-on-year growth of 5.27%. Casinos in Mississippi’s Central region generated the smallest potion or revenues of $25 million and $27.9 million in August 2023 and August 2024, respectively. However, Central region casinos incurred year-on-year growth of 10.74%, more than double the growth of the other regions, and nearly twice that of the state’s total. 

The $2 Billion Annual Threshold

Mississippi casinos have been steadily generating over $2 billion in revenues in recent years. Since 2016, the only drop below the $2 billion mark occurred in 2020, with $1.7 billion generated during the time of the COVID pandemic. However, the state’s casinos made a remarkable recovery in 2021, generating on that year a record $2.6 billion in revenues, which has been the highest grossing year yet. 

Year-to-Date Revenues Generated at a Slower Pace

Current calendar year-to-date revenues are $1.6 billion, bringing the average month-to-date revenue to $204 million, which is lower than last year’s corresponding monthly average of over $210. If revenues continue at this rate for the remainder of the year, total AGR will exceed the $2 billion mark again, but the year will end with total revenues around $2.4 billion, slightly lower than 2023, but considerably below the record years of 2021 and 2022.