Mississippi House committee advances mobile sports betting, but Senate resistance remains

A Mississippi House panel has advanced a plan to legalize mobile sports betting, but the proposal faces an uphill battle in the Senate.

Just before Tuesday’s deadline, the House Gaming Committee inserted mobile sports betting language into two Senate bills after the Senate’s Gaming Committee declined to take up the measure, according to a report by SunHerald. Senate Gaming Chairman David Blount (D-Jackson) remains opposed, casting doubt on the bill’s chances.

Frustrated by the situation, House Gaming Chairman Casey Eure (R-Saucier) said he had already made several changes at the Senate’s request. “This shows how serious we are about mobile sports betting,” Eure said. “I’ve done everything he’s asked for ... I’ve done everything they’ve asked for plus some.”

The House passed the Mississippi Mobile Sports Wagering Act in February, with an 88-10 vote. The revised bill allows casinos to partner with two sports betting platforms instead of one, a change meant to address concerns from smaller casinos. It also includes a ban on credit card betting to curb gambling addiction.

Blount, however, highlighted ongoing concerns over consumer protections and the broader impact on Mississippi’s gambling market. “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," he stated.

“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,” he continued.

The proposal includes a 12% tax on sports wagers, with funds going to the Emergency Road and Bridge Repair Fund for all 82 counties. Eure claims Mississippi loses $40–$80 million annually by keeping mobile betting illegal. Additionally, supporters said legalization would weaken offshore gambling operations.

Mississippi has recorded nearly 8.7 million attempts to access legal online sportsbooks since the NFL season began this year, the report said.

Opponents, however, fear legalization could hurt smaller casinos and increase gambling addiction. 

Currently, 30 states and Washington, D.C., allow mobile sports betting.

The amended bills, SB 2381 and SB 2510, now head to the full House for consideration.