The Mississippi House of Representatives has approved a bill aimed at legalizing mobile sports betting across the state.
In an 82-10 vote on Monday, lawmakers passed House Bill 1302, the “Mississippi Sports Wagering Act.” The bill, introduced by Rep. Casey Eure (R-Saucier), closely mirrors a version passed by the House last year but with key modifications.
Under the proposed legislation, individuals aged 21 and older would be allowed to place legal sports wagers on regulated events through mobile devices, similar to current operations in Mississippi’s brick-and-mortar casinos.
Despite mobile sports betting being prevalent in the state for years, it has not been legalized and takes place through the black market, meaning Mississippi has missed out on potential tax revenue, according to Mississippi Gaming Commission Executive Director Jay McDaniel.
Eure pointed out that Mississippi ranks among the top states for illegal online sports betting searches but remains one of the 19 states without legalized mobile wagering.
In neighboring states like Louisiana and Tennessee, mobile sports betting has generated significant tax revenue, with Tennessee earning nearly $100 million and Louisiana pulling in $64 million last year. Mississippi, however, has yet to capitalize on the booming industry.
If passed, the bill would impose a 12% tax on revenue generated by mobile sports betting, with proceeds earmarked for road and bridge repairs in all 82 Mississippi counties.
Eure said that mobile betting would be tied to brick-and-mortar casinos and platforms would need geofencing to ensure betting occurs within Mississippi. The new bill also allows casinos to partner with up to two online betting platforms as opposed to one in the previous version.
Additionally, the bill prohibits using credit cards for mobile bets to curb gambling addiction but allows debit cards and services like Venmo. However, concerns over the impact on smaller casinos and potential job losses have been raised.
House Minority Leader Robert Johnson III ( D-Natchez), who voted against the bill, warned that smaller casinos without online partnerships could be left behind. “You talk about partners, but there is nothing that says FanDuel or ESPN has to partner with any particular casino,” he said, according to a report by Biloxi Local News & Events. “They just have to partner with a casino in the state of Mississippi.”
He suggested that bets should be geofenced regionally, rather than statewide, to steer revenue to local casinos.
To address these concerns, the bill sets up a $6 million “Retail Sports Wagering Protection” fund to help casinos that face financial losses due to mobile betting. Any unused funds would go toward road and bridge repairs.
In mid-January, Senate Gaming Committee Chairman David Blount, D-Jackson, argued that gaming in Mississippi is designed to boost tourism, attract new visitors, encourage investment in hotels and amenities, and support tens of thousands of jobs.
He stressed that while these benefits are important, mobile sports betting does not contribute to any of these goals, as it does not drive tourism or economic investment in the state.
The bill now moves to the Senate for review.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2025/02/04/94049-mississippi-house-passes-bill-to-legalize-mobile-sports-betting
