Sports betting will be available at two MGM casinos in the state; the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi, and Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica from midday CT.

Invited guests include former NFL players Willis McGahee and Stanley Morgan, who will place simultaneous bets at the two properties to commemorate the opening.

MGM announced the news via Beau Rivage’s Twitter page, which posted: “New era. New game. Sports Book opens August 1st.”

Mississippi will be the third US state to legalise sports betting after the Supreme Court’s decision to repeal the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act.

Delaware and New Jersey both launched regulated sports betting in June.

The news came just hours after MGM’s joint sports betting venture with GVC Holdings was announced, which will prepare MGM to launch sportsbooks in up to 15 states, including Mississippi.

MGM is also well placed to offer online sports betting in the Magnolia State, after partnering with Boyd Gaming to expand its online gaming portfolio. Mobile betting is currently only legal in casino premises.

More operators are keen to offer sports betting in the state, with 12 other casinos applying for sports betting licences, as they aim to be active before the start of the NFL season in September