- A conference committee could not come to a consensus on Mississippi online sports betting
- A bill that also included a prohibition on sweepstakes games is dead in the state
- Online sports betting’s chances are dead yet again in the Magnolia State
Mississippi online sports betting ended up in exactly the same spot this legislative session as it did in 2024.
Dead and buried in a conference committee.
A conference committee of Mississippi legislators could not come to a consensus on a Senate-approved bill to prohibit sweepstakes gaming that included tacked-on online sports betting language.
No Agreement in Conference Committee
Last week, the Mississippi Senate did not concur with the House of Representative changes to SB 2510, a bill originally crafted to prohibit sweepstakes gaming in the state. House of Representative members added online sports betting legalization language to SB 2510, which was unsurprisingly denied by the Senate.
Online sports betting is currently only legal on casino property in the state. Language in the bill would have seen it expand off casino property and be available statewide.
The bill headed to a conference committee to see if any consensus existed between the House and Senate to keep the bill moving forward. Mississippi Senators Joey Fillingane (R-41), Mike Thompson (R-48), and David Blount (D-29) served on the conference committee.
The chances for agreement were always slim to none, especially with Blount serving on the conference committee. Blount, who is the chair of the Senate Gaming Committee, has been a vocal opponent of legalized Mississippi online sports betting. He never called the House approved online sports betting bill to his committee this session, effectively blocking the legislation.
Fear of online sports betting cannibalization, and its effect on revenues for brick-and-mortar casinos in the state, led to stalled discussions in the Senate.
The bill was listed as dead on March 31. It’s the same fate online sports betting experienced last legislative session as well, dying in a conference committee.
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What’s Next for Mississippi Online Sports Betting, Sweepstakes Ban?
Mississippi lawmakers will likely discuss online sports betting legalization in 2026 as well, but with fears of cannibalization from the state’s casino industry it is difficult to imagine a bill being moved across the finish line.
Blount’s term runs until Jan. 4, 2028, and his stance against online sports betting will unlikely change. He’s sided with state casinos during all discussions on the expansion
As for the sweepstakes ban? It seemed to be a casualty of the lawmakers’ dislike for online sports betting expansion, but the state can still take measures to prohibit the game. The Mississippi Gaming Commission can send cease-and-desist notices to sweepstakes operators, a strategy that has had inconsistent success in other states.
In a surprising turn of events, online sports betting in Mississippi has come to a quiet end. The state, which was one of the first in the country to legalize sports betting following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the federal ban on the activity, has seen a rapid decline in online betting activity in recent months.
The demise of online sports betting in Mississippi can be attributed to a number of factors. One of the main reasons for the decline is the lack of interest from bettors. Despite the initial excitement surrounding the legalization of sports betting in the state, many residents have opted to place their bets at physical sportsbooks rather than online. This has led to a decrease in revenue for online betting operators, making it difficult for them to sustain their operations.
Another factor contributing to the demise of online sports betting in Mississippi is the limited options available to bettors. Unlike other states where online sports betting is thriving, Mississippi has a limited number of online betting platforms to choose from. This lack of competition has made it difficult for operators to attract new customers and retain existing ones.
Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the online sports betting industry in Mississippi. With many sporting events being canceled or postponed, bettors have had fewer opportunities to place bets, leading to a decrease in overall activity.
Despite these challenges, some operators are still holding out hope that online sports betting in Mississippi will make a comeback. However, it remains to be seen whether the industry will be able to recover from its current slump.
In conclusion, the demise of online sports betting in Mississippi is a sobering reminder of the challenges facing the industry. While there may still be hope for a revival in the future, it is clear that online sports betting in the state has hit a rough patch. Only time will tell if operators will be able to adapt and overcome these obstacles to bring online sports betting back to its former glory.
