Mississippi Online Sports Betting Bill Advances to Full Senate, Remains in Play

The Mississippi Senate Committee on Gaming has given the green light to a House-approved online sports betting bill, moving it one step closer to becoming law. The bill, known as the Mississippi Mobile Sports Wagering Act, would allow online sports betting for 26 casinos in the state.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Casey Eure, was approved by the House two months ago by a wide margin of 97-14. Now, it has made its way to the Senate Committee on Gaming, which swiftly moved it forward with a “do pass” motion. The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration, with a deadline of April 11 for approval.

Under the proposed legislation, each of the 26 Mississippi casinos would be able to partner with a sports betting company to offer online sports betting throughout the state. Currently, online sports betting is only legal while on casino property, but this bill would expand those opportunities.

The bill includes a tiered tax system for adjusted sports betting revenue, with operators required to pay between 4% and 8% of gross revenue depending on their monthly earnings. Additionally, all online sports betting tax revenue would be allocated to the state’s emergency road and bridge repair fund.

If approved by the Senate with a necessary three-fifths majority by April 11, Mississippi could see annual sports betting tax revenues ranging from $25 million to $35 million. With the potential for significant financial gains and increased consumer options, the future of online sports betting in Mississippi looks promising.