Mississippi Democrat David Blount from Jackson (right), seen here with Republican Sen. Briggs Hopson of Vicksburg (right), will be shepherding a bill to allow land- and river-based casinos to offer mobile sports betting anywhere in the state. (Image: Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press/Alamy)

A bill that would allow mobile sports betting throughout the state passed the Mississippi Senate Gaming Committee on Tuesday, setting up a full Senate vote that could take place in the next week.

The committee gave a “do pass” approval to HB 774, which passed the Mississippi House in February by an overwhelming 98-14 vote. 

See Also:

• Louisiana Casinos
• Florida Casinos

Bill Would Take Betting Beyond Casino Walls

Mississippi launched regulated sports betting in 2018. That legislation did allow for limited online sports betting. However, users could only access the mobile betting sites while on the premises of one of Mississippi’s 26 casinos – not from other locations within the state. 

The new bill, known as the Mississippi Mobile Sports Wagering Act, would allow people 21 or older to place mobile sports bets on approved sites from anywhere in the state. Any online operator would have to partner with a Mississippi-based casino operator to offer betting. Each casino can only partner with one vendor.

Stakeholders in Mississippi’s gaming industry have been looking into expanding mobile betting since last year as a potential way to drive revenues, which have been dropping in recent years. 

“We would definitely see an increase in revenue just because it would reach all corners of the state,” Mississippi Gaming Commissioner Jay McDaniel told reporters in February. “I believe we would capture some from a state like Alabama that doesn’t have it right now legally.” 

Ironing Out Final Wrinkles

The Mississippi Senate now has until April 11 to vote on the bill. However, even if the legislation that made it through the Gaming Committee passes, that won’t be the end of the road. 

The Senate version of the bill differs slightly from the original House bill. The most significant changes include making age verification software mandatory, limiting the number of entries players can make in fantasy sports contests, and other regulations that would mostly impact the daily fantasy sports industry. It’s unlikely that these minor changes would scuttle the legislation, but the House and Senate would have to reconcile their versions of their bill.

“If people are talking, it’s a good thing,” State Senate Gaming Committee Chairman David Blount said during Tuesday’s meeting. “There are a lot of issues that we need to consider from the perspective of the industry and also from the perspective of the consumer that we will do if we get to the point where we might be able to get something done this year.”

Related: 

• Sen. David Blount Outlines Gaming Committee Priorities on SuperTalk Mississippi (Jan. 24. 2024)

Under the legislation, sportsbooks would pay a 12 percent tax on adjusted gross revenue. Mississippi is anticipating earning up to $35 million each year from online sports betting, money that would go to an emergency repaid fund for roads and highways.

Mississippi reported $6.6 million in sports betting revenue based on $44.6 million in handle on January 2024. That’s a 31.4 percent increase from the $5.1 million the state made from betting in January 2023. The state also reported $180.3 million in total commercial gaming revenue in that month, representing a 10.7 percent year-over-year decline for Mississippi’s casinos.