Currently limited to in-person betting

Online sports betting in Mississippi set for renewed debate in 2025

2025-01-03
Reading time 2:04 min

As Mississippi lawmakers prepare to reconvene in Jackson for the 2025 legislative session, the contentious issue of online sports betting is expected to resurface. Despite a strong push in 2024, efforts to expand sports betting beyond retail locations ultimately faltered after legislative disagreements.

In early 2024, the Mississippi House of Representatives approved House Bill 774, which sought to legalize statewide online sports betting.

The bill passed with a 97-14 vote but faced significant amendments in the Senate, where it passed 36-15 before stalling in a bipartisan conference committee. The Legislature adjourned without resolving key issues, leaving the expansion effort in limbo.

Disputes between the House and Senate centered on licensing and taxation frameworks for online sportsbooks. While some senators expressed concerns about potential harm to the state’s physical casinos, others argued that restricting online betting without including online casino games would be shortsighted. These divisions ultimately hindered progress, despite support from Mississippi's commercial casinos.

MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, and other major casino operators in the state back online sports betting, arguing it complements brick-and-mortar operations rather than detracting from them. Mississippi's 26 commercial casinos, which generated $2.5 billion in gross gaming revenue (GGR) last year, rank among the nation’s top gaming markets. Industry leaders contend that legalized online sports betting would bolster the state’s economy and help curb illegal gambling activity.

Mississippi’s restrictive approach to sports betting has left some residents turning to unregulated online platforms or crossing state lines into Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee, where online wagering is permitted. Proponents of expansion highlight that limiting sports betting to retail locations has also reduced potential tax revenues.

State Senator David Blount (D-Jackson), who chairs the Senate Gaming Committee, has indicated he does not plan to introduce an online sports betting bill unless prompted by the Mississippi Gaming Commission. However, Blount remains open to considering a Senate bill if one is filed by another lawmaker.

The House has been outspoken in wanting to expand gaming in the state, so I don’t know what they may do. I’ll have to wait and see if there’s a Senate bill or not to consider,” Blount stated. 

Blount has also acknowledged the need to address consumer protection concerns and narrow the scope of any potential bill to focus solely on sports betting. A more refined approach, he suggests, could improve the chances of success in 2025.

The Mississippi Gaming Commission, which oversees the state’s casinos, has not actively supported legislative efforts to expand online sports betting.

Executive Director Jay McDaniel noted that while the commission would work to ensure any proposed bill aligns with the state’s interests, it typically does not recommend legislation. McDaniel also highlighted that online sports betting is technically already legal within Mississippi but restricted to casino grounds.

If passed, online sports betting legislation could provide significant economic benefits, backers say. The 2024 bill projected an additional $25 million in annual tax revenue earmarked for infrastructure improvements.

In states like New Jersey, where both in-person and online sports betting are allowed, online platforms dominate the market. Between January and November 2024, online sportsbooks in New Jersey generated $130.3 million in tax revenue compared to just $2.8 million from physical sportsbooks.

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