The Mississippi House of Representatives has passed two bills containing provisions for mobile sports betting, pushing the issue to the state Senate, where it faces an uncertain fate ahead of a March 21 deadline.
The House incorporated mobile betting language into unrelated Senate bills last week, a legislative maneuver aimed at keeping the proposal alive after the original deadline for new bills had passed. The Senate has yet to take up the issue, leaving the future of online sports wagering in Mississippi unclear.
Retail sports betting has been legal in Mississippi’s casinos since 2018, but online wagering remains unapproved. Proponents argue that allowing mobile betting would generate much-needed state revenue and curb illegal offshore gambling.
House Gaming Chairman Casey Eure (R-Saucier), a leading advocate for mobile betting, estimates that legalizing online wagers could generate more than $50 million in annual state revenue.
“The program could generate more than $50 million in state revenues and help curb illegal online betting in the state,” Eure said.
Mississippi’s casino industry is divided on the issue, with some operators fearing that mobile betting would divert customers from brick-and-mortar casinos, leading to job losses and revenue declines.
Senate Gaming Chairman David Blount (D-Jackson) acknowledged these concerns: “What some call a casino is someone’s pocket.”
A coalition of eight casino operators sent a letter opposing the bill, arguing that the proposal amounts to a sweeping expansion of gambling without voter approval.
“A statewide expansion of gaming, with no local referendums, putting a casino in the hands of every person in Mississippi, no matter where they are located (homes, schools, churches) … This is not the right vision for gaming in Mississippi,” the letter stated.
The House inserted the mobile betting provisions into two Senate bills—one originally related to coastal tidelands regulations, the other addressing fines for illegal gambling operations.
Under the proposed framework, existing casinos would be eligible to operate up to two mobile sports betting platforms (“skins”), allowing them to partner with sportsbook operators. The bill does not yet specify a tax rate but would permit a full range of betting options, including in-play and proposition bets.
In addition to the mobile sports betting debate, Mississippi lawmakers are also considering a ban on online sweepstakes casinos, an issue that has drawn scrutiny in several other states, including Maryland and Florida.
A separate bill proposes fines of up to $100,000 and/or 10 years in jail for those operating illegal online sweepstakes gambling.
With less than two weeks before the March 21 deadline, the Mississippi Senate must decide whether to approve the House’s proposal, reject it, or seek a compromise through conference negotiations.
Mississippi’s legislative session is set to adjourn on April 6, leaving little time for further debate if lawmakers fail to reach an agreement.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2025/03/13/98046-mississippi-house-approves-mobile-sports-betting-senate-decision-looms
