NATCHEZ — When a May U.S. Supreme Court ruling paved the way for legalized sports betting in Mississippi casinos, Magnolia Bluffs Casino in Natchez was on top of its game, literally.

Friday afternoon, the Natchez casino opened its new sportsbook lounge, joining other casinos across the state that had eagerly awaited the court’s decision.

“We’ve been looking forward to it for quite a few years,” said Kevin Kickels, Magnolia Bluffs Casino marketing manager. “We look at it as an amenity for our casino. … Sports betting is an attraction with a clear gaming experience. … Gambling and sports often go hand in hand.”

The Mississippi Gaming Commission reported Tuesday that sports bettors placed wagers totaling $31.77 million statewide on sporting events last month, which generated $5.5 million in taxable revenue.

The commission’s September report also showed sports wagers for the Mississippi Central District, which includes Natchez, totaled $2.9 million alone, which translates into $470,564 in taxable revenue. The majority of bets in the Central District were placed on football games, which totaled $2.26 million.

Magnolia Bluffs Casino hopes to now be a part of the action with its new offerings.

Kickels said the Magnolia Bluffs Casino began work on its sportsbook lounge soon after the court’s ruling, which features nine different television sets and comfortable seating for 30 to 50 visitors.

Kickels said sports betting provides a definite attraction for the casino and is now available seven days a week as of its soft opening Friday.

“It’s a pretty nice space for sports betting for sure,” Kickels said. “For now we take bets on football, basketball and baseball.”

Kickels said the amount of revenue that sports betting would generate for Natchez is up to chance. Whoever bets on the winning team is a winner, he said.

“You can’t really control the games,” Kickels said. “The benefit for Mississippi is they’ve had their ducks in a row to get it open as soon as possible. Because we have it and our surrounding states don’t, we’re one step ahead of the game — no pun intended.”