Mississippi Mobile Sports Betting Bill Advances to Senate

The Mississippi House has sent a bill to legalize mobile sports betting to the State Senate after voting 100-11 in favor of advancing it on Wednesday.

In addition to legalizing mobile sports betting, House Bill 4074 would set a 22% tax rate on mobile wagering revenue. According to the Chairman of the House Gaming Committee and the bill’s main sponsor, Casey Eure, the tax rate would align Mississippi sports betting with the national average and could generate about $100 million annually.

At the same time, the measure would reduce the state gaming tax on brick-and-mortar casinos from 8% to 6%, a change that Casey Eure described as a roughly $48 million tax cut. The local 4% gaming tax would remain unchanged, and supporters of the bill say that the adjustment would allow casinos to reinvest in their properties and workforce, though this would not be mandatory.

Under the proposal, $50 million per year from mobile sports betting revenue would be directed to the Public Employees’ Retirement System for the next decade. Supporters also point to neighboring states as benchmarks, such as Tennessee, which generated $125 million in mobile sports betting revenue last year, and Louisiana, which brought in $102 million.

The bill marks the second attempt this session to pass mobile sports wagering legislation in the House. Previous efforts have stalled in the Senate in recent years, where the measure now faces consideration by the Senate Finance Gaming Committee. 

South Carolina lawmakers weigh legalizing sports betting

Mississippi isn’t the only state looking to expand its gambling market to include online sports betting. In South Carolina, lawmakers are currently debating a bill that would legalize and regulate sports wagering. South Carolina is one of 10 states without legalized sports betting. 

Senate Bill 444 would create a South Carolina Sports Wagering Commission, impose a 12.5% tax on sports betting receipts, and limit the number of licensed operators to eight. Revenue would be distributed among the state’s general fund, local governments, the Department of Mental Health, and the commission’s administrative costs.

Supporters argue that the state is losing millions in potential revenue to North Carolina, where online betting is already legal. Senator Josh Kimbrell said North Carolina sports betting collected $129 million last year from online sports bets, including wagers placed by South Carolina residents who cross state lines to use apps like DraftKings and FanDuel.

Opponents of the bill cite research linking legalized sports betting to higher bankruptcy risks and financial strain. 

"Studies in states that legalize sports betting show higher bankruptcy risk, worsening credit, and reduced savings. Public health research also finds that a small percentage of users generate a disproportionate share of revenue and plain terms. The system relies heavily on those who struggled the most to stop," said Steve Pettit, the president of the Palmetto Family Council.

If the bill is passed, it will go to the committee stage and face further debate.