Hopes for online Mississippi sports betting are still alive as legislation heads toward a conference committee.
Last week, the Mississippi Senate advanced House Bill 774, albeit with a strike-all amendment that keeps the Mississippi sports betting law as it exists. That action, however, keeps the legislation alive and will allow members of both chambers to work together on a final bill in a conference committee, which an industry source tells LSR could come the week of April 22.
The legislative session ends May 5, but Thursday was the Senate’s deadline to act on House bills.
The initial House version of the bill allows Mississippi’s 26 casinos to offer statewide online sports betting. Mississippi legalized in-person sportsbooks and apps on casino property in 2018.
Senate sports betting action
The House passed the initial online sports betting bill February 1, 97-14. The Senate did not act on the bill until the Senate Gaming Commission took up the issue April 2.
On Tuesday, the Senate passed the strike-all amended bill, 36-15, with a motion to reconsider the House version. The Senate then voted to table the reconsideration Thursday, sending forward its version.
With the differences in language, the House can initiate a conference committee to work on the bill.
Online Mississippi sports betting stays alive
The Senate’s amendment keeps the online sports betting conversation alive as the session moves forward.
Sen. David Blount said there are still a lot of aspects to consider for legislators before they legalize statewide online sports betting.
“There is no new language, and I anticipate the House will invite conference when we send it back to them,” Blount said during Thursday’s Senate floor session when the motion to reconsider the House version was made.
Online Mississippi sports betting details
Coming into this session, industry sources ranked Mississippi sports betting expansion among the most likely bills to pass this year.
Under the House proposal, each of the 26 casinos could partner with one online operator. The state would tax online sports betting revenue at 12%.
Last year, legislators amended an online sports betting bill to create a Mobile Online Sports Betting Task Force. The task force worked on the issue in fall 2023, and Rep. Casey Eure used the discussions to create his bill this session.
