Mississippi House Advances Mobile Sports Betting Amid Senate Opposition

Mississippi gained momentum as House lawmakers made a procedural move to keep the legislation active. However, the bill still faces significant hurdles in the Senate, where appears to be lacking.

House Inserts Sports Betting Language into Senate Bills

Just hours before a legislative deadline on Tuesday evening, the House Gaming Committee amended two Senate bills by incorporating the provisions of an earlier measure that had ed the full House. That bill, aimed at legalizing online sports wagering, would position Mississippi alongside a growing list of states that allow mobile sports betting.

The procedural maneuver became necessary after the Senate Gaming Committee opted not to advance the House’s original bill. Senate Gaming Chairman David Blount, a Democrat from Jackson, has voiced opposition to the measure, a stance that has frustrated House Gaming Chairman Casey Eure, a Republican from Saucier. Eure noted that he made adjustments based on Senate input after an earlier effort to a final version failed in 2024.

“This shows how serious we are about mobile sports betting,” Eure stated. “I’ve done everything he’s asked for … I’ve done everything they’ve asked for plus some.”

Revised Legislation Addresses Previous Concerns

The Mississippi Mobile Sports Wagering Act, which the House approved in February by an 88-10 vote, was modified to address concerns previously raised by the Senate. One key revision allows casinos to form partnerships with two sports betting platforms instead of just one. This change was introduced to address fears that smaller casinos might struggle to secure partnerships, potentially concentrating revenue within larger casinos along the Gulf Coast.

Additionally, the new proposal includes a provision prohibiting bets made with credit cards, a measure the Senate had requested to help prevent gambling addiction.

Senate Resistance Stalls Progress

Despite these modifications, Senate resistance remains firm. Blount has cited concerns about regulatory stability and the broader impact of legalization on the state’s gambling industry.

“This is a different industry than any other industry because it is subject to forces outside of the control of the folks who are in this business,” Blount said. “And so what I think we need to do as a state, and we have done this for decades, is we have provided a stable regulatory environment, regardless of who is in the legislature, regardless of who the governor is, without a lot of drama.”

The legislation proposes a 12% tax on sports wagers, with generated revenue earmarked for all 82 counties through the Emergency Road and Bridge Repair Fund. According to Eure, the state could be forfeiting between $40 million and $80 million annually by not legalizing mobile sports betting.

Demand for Legalization and Market Impact

Advocates argue that legalizing mobile sports betting would curb illegal offshore gambling operations, which currently attract Mississippi residents in large numbers. Data presented to lawmakers indicates that since the start of the NFL season, there have been 8.69 million attempts to access legal mobile sportsbooks from within the state. This substantial demand has fueled concerns about an unregulated, illicit gambling market.

However, opponents warn that legalization could harm smaller casinos and potentially lead to increased gambling-related debt and addiction issues among residents.

At present, 30 states and Washington, D.C., permit mobile sports betting, according to the American Gaming Association.

The House Gaming Committee has added mobile sports betting provisions to SB 2381 and SB 2510, which will now be considered by the full chamber. The ultimate fate of the legislation, however, remains uncertain as Senate opposition persists.

Source:

‘’Mississippi lawmakers keep mobile sports betting alive, but it faces roadblock in the Senate’’, mississippitoday.org, March 04, 2025.