Online sports betting in Mississippi is still being debated, but lawmakers seem to agree on the future of sweepstakes casinos in the Magnolia State.
A bill that would legalize online sports betting and ban online sweepstakes casinos in Mississippi is now going to a conference committee for further discussion.
The Mississippi Senate passed a bill introduced by Sen. Joey Fillingane, known as Senate Bill 2510, with a unanimous 51-0 vote. This bill aims to increase criminal penalties for illegal online gambling in the state and ban online sweepstakes gaming. Earlier this month, House Representatives added language about online sports betting to the bill.
Mississippi is one of a handful of states, including New York and West Virginia, that are pushing back against sweepstakes casino gaming.
Mississippi Has Long Opposed Sweepstakes Casinos
In February, the Mississippi Senate became the first legislative body in the U.S. to pass a bill banning sweepstakes casinos. However, it later rejected the bill due to the inclusion of sports betting language.
Although the latest bill does not define sweepstakes casinos, it labels them as unlicensed operators. If someone violates this proposal, they could face felony charges, with penalties including fines of up to $10,000 and up to 10 years in prison.
Now, SB 2510 is moving to a conference committee, where Sen. Fillingane, Sen. Mike Thompson, and Sen. David Blount will represent the Senate. This development means that, for now, sweepstakes casino gaming is still legal. But for how long?
Mississippi Online Sports Betting Discussions Continue
Lawmakers seem to agree on a path forward for the future of sweepstakes casinos in the Magnolia State, but, according to a report from Mississippi Today, online sports betting appears to be hitting a roadblock.
The bill would also legalize mobile sports betting, putting the state on track to join a growing number of others that allow online wagering. However, it does not appear to have enough support in the Senate to pass.
The House Gaming Committee used a procedural move because the Senate committee refused to consider its bill. Senate Gaming Chairman David Blount, a Democrat from Jackson, said he doesn't support the bill. This caused frustration for House Gaming Chairman Casey Eure, a Republican from Saucier, who mentioned that he made changes suggested by the Senate after lawmakers couldn't agree on a final proposal in 2024.
Blount mentioned that other states with legalized online sports betting are increasingly worried about how to protect consumers and how the legalization might affect current gambling businesses.
Demand for Online Sports Betting in Mississippi
Since the NFL season began this year, there have been nearly 9 million attempts to access legal mobile sports betting sites in Mississippi, according to information shared with House members in an earlier meeting.
Sports betting is already legal in the Magnolia State, but it’s only permitted at brick-and-mortar casinos.
Supporters of legalizing mobile betting argue that this demand is driving a booming illegal online gambling market in the state. However, opponents believe that legalizing it could hurt the profits of smaller casinos and increase debt and addiction issues among gamblers.
Discussions will continue, but any progress will require lawmakers to reach some form of agreement, if there is any hope for it to expand online in the foreseeable future.
