- The Mississippi House of Representatives passed two amended Senate bills that include online sports betting
- The Senate bills were amended by the House Gaming Committee to include online sports betting language
- The fate of online sports betting is now fully in the hands of the Senate
Two amended Mississippi sports betting bills were approved by a vast majority in the House of Representatives this week. That’s good! However, the fate of Mississippi sports betting is now fully in the hands of the Senate, which has shown no appetite this session for approval. That’s bad!
The Mississippi House of Representatives approved both SB 2381 and SB 2510, two Senate amended bills that includes the language of the previously House approved online sports betting bill, HB 1302.
The House Gaming Committee last week inserted the language of the legislation into the Senate bills as a procedural move to keep online sports betting alive ahead of the April 6 session deadline.
Sports Betting Alive, but on Life Support
The Mississippi House of Representatives approved by Senate amended bills by a large margin, with SB 2381 passed by a 107-3 vote and SB 2510 by an 83-19 vote. The Mississippi House has long been a proponent of expanded sports betting in the state, but efforts have been stymied by the Senate over the past two years.
According to the Sun Herald, Mississippi Senate Gaming Committee Chairman David Blount (D-29) does not support online sports betting and will not bring the measure to committee for a vote.
Fear of online sports betting cannibalization and its effect on revenues for brick-and-mortar casinos in the state have led to stalled discussions in the Senate.
The Senate did not take up Rep. Casey Eure’s (R-116) original online sports betting bill, HB 1302, forcing the House Gaming Committee to include its language in the Senate bills to ensure discussions continued this session.
Eure has been the driving force in the House for online sports betting over the last two years. He made significant changes to his 2025 bill to appease both Senate and Mississippi retail casino concerns after the issued failed in 2024.
His bill earmarks $6 million annually to a new Retail Sports Wagering Protection Fund. The fund will allow casinos who choose to not partner with an online sports betting operators to apply for a portion of revenue from the fund. The Retail Sports Wagering Protection Fund will receive $6 million annually through 2030.
Any additional revenue over the $6 million threshold will be placed in the state’s road and bridge repair fund.
His 2025 bill also increased the number of potential online sports betting partners for the state’s 26 commercial dockside and land-based casinos from one to two.
Launch No Later Than Dec. 8, 2025
The bill sets a universal launch date of no later than Dec. 8, 2025.
The bill includes a tiered tax system for adjusted sports betting revenue as follows:
- 4% of gross revenue not surpassing $50,000 per month
- 6% of gross revenue that surpasses $50,000, but does not surpass $134,000 per month
- 8% of gross revenue that surpasses $134,000 per month
Each operator will also have to pay an additional 4% in gross revenue into the road and bridge repair fund. Operators would have to pay a maximum of 12% in adjusted gross revenue to the state depending on their revenue each month.
The Mississippi House of Representatives recently approved two revised sports betting bills, marking a significant step forward in the state’s efforts to legalize and regulate sports betting. The bills, House Bill 172 and House Bill 173, were both passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, signaling a growing consensus among lawmakers that sports betting should be allowed in the state.
House Bill 172, also known as the Mississippi Gaming Control Act, seeks to establish a framework for regulating sports betting in the state. The bill outlines the rules and regulations that will govern the industry, including licensing requirements for operators, consumer protections, and measures to prevent problem gambling. It also sets out the tax rates that will be imposed on sports betting revenue, with the proceeds earmarked for education and other public services.
House Bill 173, on the other hand, focuses on the implementation of sports betting in Mississippi. The bill lays out the procedures for issuing licenses to operators, as well as the requirements for conducting sports betting activities. It also addresses issues such as data sharing agreements with sports leagues and the use of official league data in determining the outcomes of bets.
The passage of these bills comes on the heels of a landmark Supreme Court decision last year that struck down a federal ban on sports betting, paving the way for states to legalize and regulate the industry. Since then, a number of states have moved quickly to pass legislation allowing for sports betting, with Mississippi now poised to join their ranks.
Proponents of sports betting in Mississippi argue that it will generate much-needed revenue for the state, create jobs, and boost tourism. They also point to the popularity of sports betting in other states as evidence of its potential success in Mississippi.
However, opponents of sports betting raise concerns about the potential social costs of expanded gambling, including addiction and other negative impacts on vulnerable populations. They also question whether the revenue generated from sports betting will be enough to offset these costs and provide a net benefit to the state.
As the bills now move to the Senate for consideration, it remains to be seen whether they will ultimately become law. But one thing is clear: the debate over sports betting in Mississippi is far from over, and lawmakers will continue to grapple with the complex issues surrounding this controversial industry.
