Mississippi Legislator Files Online Sports Betting Expansion Bill


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Mississippi sports betting

While the chair of the Mississippi Senate Gaming Commission is not likely to introduce a mobile sports betting bill, another legislator did just that this week. 

Rep. Cedric Burnett introduced House Bill 682 on Wednesday. Lawmakers in the state legalized in-person sports betting in 2018 and have discussed online expansion for Mississippi sports betting since.

Burnett’s bill comes after Sen. David Blount said he would only file a bill if the Mississippi Gaming Commission requested it. The bill was referred to the House Gaming Commission on Wednesday.

Mississippi sports betting expansion

HB 682 would amend the Gaming Control Act’s definition of “sports pool” and define “digital platform.” 

The changes would authorize the use of online sportsbooks to make wagers outside of Mississippi casinos. Mobile platforms can also be used on casino properties.

The bill would keep sports betting taxes in place, ranging from 6% to 8% based on monthly revenue. Last year, a similar bill was amended to raise the mobile tax rate to 12%

Expansion push renewed

Last year, the House passed a similar bill by a 97-14 margin. The Senate, however, struck the entire bill, and the legislation died in conference committee.

Consistent attempts have been made since the 2018 in-person legalization, but locally owned brick-and-mortar casinos are concerned about revenue cannibalization. 

Industry sources were bullish on Mississippi in 2024, as the legislation was based on a Mobile Online Sports Betting Task Force that was formed to help advance the issue.

Last year, following Mississippi’s failure to expand online, one industry source told LSR, “It feels like there’s a lot of work to be done in the Senate.”

Mississippi sports betting revenue

Since Mississippi sportsbooks launched in 2018, they have taken more than $2.8 billion in wagers. 

The sportsbooks have generated $322 million in sports betting revenue

Mississippi has raised $38.7 million in taxes, an 11.1% hold. 

Accounts grow in Mississippi

GeoComply released geolocation data from seven unregulated online sports betting states this week. Within those markets, the report signified strong growth of registered accounts at legal sportsbooks in other states.

In Mississippi, GeoComply recorded nearly 10 million geolocation checks from 212,263 accounts.

Accounts in Mississippi grew 77% year over year, according to the report.

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