The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians has amended its gambling regulations to be able to offer sports betting in its casinos.
As owner and operator of the Bok Homa Casino and Pearl River Resort, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians will soon be offering sports betting. A recent council meeting approved amendments to the Choctaw Gaming Commission Regulations thus paving the way for sports betting operations to begin.
As the Mississippi Gaming Commission awaits public comment on proposals to permit sports betting in the state, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians has already made the changes necessary for the tribe to begin offering sports betting services. The tribe’s casinos are not connected to the state gaming commission, so it can make its own regulatory changes to become involved in the new industry.
Approved amendments
On May 31, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians held a Special Call Tribal Council Meeting at which the council voted unanimously to approve amendments to the Choctaw Gaming Commission regulations.
Chapter 4 of the regulations, a section involving the governing of sports pools, pari-mutuel wagering, and race books, saw two new sections added. The amendments were brought to the council after the United States Supreme Court ruled, May 14, that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was unconstitutional.
With the introductio0n of these amendments – along with other changes aimed at addressing issues with skill-based gaming, eSports, and fantasy contests – tribe’s casinos will be able to offer sports betting in a legal environment on professional and college level games.
Tribal chief and CRDE board chairman Phyliss J. Anderson said: “The resort is very excited about the opportunity to offer these products for our guests in a vibrant and advanced gambling environment. These newly approved regulations will allow the resort to remain at the forefront of the gambling market as well as provide additional revenue streams to the tribe. The resort will be able to service all our patrons at Bok Home Casino, Silver Star Hotel and Casino, and Golden Moon Hotel and Casino.”
The resort Anderson is referring to is the Pearl River Resort, a property that is home to two casinos, the Golden Moon and the Silver Star. These venues, as well as the Bok Home Casino, are located in areas that will serve customers from both Mississippi and Alabama. Both states have dedicated sports fans, so the tribe expects to do well once the sports betting operations are live.
Mississippi Gaming Commission
Because the tribe governs itself, it will become the first organization to offer sports betting in Mississippi due to the regulatory changes. Sports betting regulations that the state Gaming Commission proposed earlier this year must undergo a public review period before the commission can move forward. State officials plan to offer sports betting by the end of summer.
State-run sports betting will be land- and water-based, with mobile wagering allowed for operators who have casino licensing. It is believed that the regulations created by the Gaming Commission will be adopted during a meeting set to take place on June 21.