Gaming Options in the Southern United States

The United States is known to host a diverse range of gaming options from coast to coast. The northern part of the US continues to dominate the regional destination casinos, such as Encore Boston Harbor, Mohegan SUN, Borgata and Wind Creek Bethlehem and others. Besides, the Midwest of the US remains the focal point of riverboat gaming. From North Carolina to Oklahoma and all along with the West Coast, tribal gaming is a success. However, the southern portion of the US still remains mostly untouched when it comes to casino gaming. 

For now, only three Southern states offer casino gaming options and developments which are Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Other two states that provide gaming options are North Carolina, Alabama, which offer tribal gaming. Besides, Florida and Texas even though they are both parts of the South, they hold their own markets, because of their scope and size. This leaves several other states, from Virginia to Georgia and Kentucky with no casino gaming options. However, to understand the expansion opportunities in the region, the historical market development needs to be understood. 

Gaming in the Bayou

We talked about what states from the US offer gaming options, but we didn’t take a closer look at each state. For example, Louisiana has a total of 25 casinos, including 20 commercial casinos and five tribal casinos that host video gaming terminals across the state. However, in order to create a gaming expansion in Louisiana, it needs to be first approved on the ballot. Last time a gaming expansion that happened was in 2018 when voters voted for fantasy sports. 

In Mississippi, the gaming roots lie in both tribal interests as well as commercial gaming. In 1988 after the passage of Indian Gaming Regulatory, the first casino that the tribals opened was in 1994 by a band of Choctaw Indians, the Silver Star casino. Shortly after that, the Mississippi Gaming Control passed, which can help the state’s economy. 

The state of Arkansas had its first forms of gaming when, in 2005, electronic games of skill were accepted. Two racetracks, Southland and Oaklawn, have dominated the market. Ever since table games, such as blackjack, roulette, poker had been introduced, in November 2018, the gaming market has grown and continues to grow. Besides, a third location was inaugurated, the Saracen Casino Resort.

The South also has two tribal gaming states that are dominated by the Eastern Band of Cherokee in North Carolina and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians in Alabama. The tribal communities are known for their ability to give back to the communities in which they operate and act as pleasant as possible with strong community stewards.

Florida is part of the south, however, it evolved into a diverse gaming market of its own. When it is about casino gaming in Florida, all the roads lead to the Seminole tribe. Even Florida has expanded land-based gaming through racetracks. In addition, the most popular casinos in the South are all owned by tribes, and they are the Seminole Hard Rock Casino Hotels in Hollywood and Tampa, Florida, Wind Creek Casino owned by Poarch Creek Band in Alabama, and Harrah’s Cherokee in North Carolina.  

The Road Ahead

While the South has a few names of casino gaming, the landscape is still wide open for development. For example, Tennessee & Virginia are one of the largest and most comprehensive gaming expansions, beyond the casino. Tennessee was the first US state that accepted the mobile-only sports market. Besides, Virginia is on a fast track to move forward with regulations for casino gaming.  

These operations will likely start in 2021. Casino gaming is moving forward fast because it has five potential locations that were already chosen by casino partners. These five locations are Bristol, Danville, Portsmouth, Norfolk and Richmond. Gaming expansion opportunities are very much alive and well in other Southern states with Alabama and George having the most active debates. Alabama has a strong tribal market through Poarch band with its gaming operation in Wind Creek Hospitality. 

Meanwhile, in Georgia, the gaming expansion has been debated for decades. Besides, Georgia does not have casinos, but Atlanta could become home to one of the biggest casinos in the US. Also, only two Southern states, Texas and Florida, remain the top states with potential for US gaming development. Both states have some forms of gaming, and their offering has differences in their makeup with potential future opportunity.