Mississippi Senate Votes To Keep Mobile Sports Betting Off The Table For Now

The battle to expand on what is a fairly robust retail sports betting industry in Mississippi that involved the best sportsbooks has hit a bit of a snag. The Senate has decided to strike all online betting language from an expansive House bill that was passed in February.

Mississippi is home to 26 commercial and tribal casinos that offer retail sports betting and off-track wagering opportunities through betting sites. Mobile apps are available in the state but must be used on the grounds of a brick-and-mortar facility only. 

House Bill 774 hopes to expand upon that provision.

It isn't all bad news for the chances of Mississippi sports betting apps becoming a reality in the state. While not endorsing mobile sports betting platforms in the state, the Senate didn't exactly shut the door either. It's open to future discussion.

What H.B. 774 says

House Bill 774 seeks to expand mobile sports betting in the Magnolia State beyond just brick-and-mortar facilities. Each of the 26 Mississippi casinos would partner with an online provider to allow bettors to place a wager from anywhere in the state using the best sports betting apps.

A 12% tax is proposed, which is expected to generate $35 million in revenue annually to fund repairs to state roads and highways.

It was passed in the House in February by a 97-14 vote.

But...

The Senate amended the bill to strip all provisions for expanded Mississippi sports betting apps. Senators voted on a motion to reconsider, which doesn't end the possibility of statewide mobile sports betting going live. 

It simply keeps the current law in place for now.

“The amendment that came out of committee makes no changes to the current law," said Sen. David Blount, chairman of the gaming committee. "It does not express a Senate position one way or another, but it does express our position to continue to discuss this and hear from people across the state on this issue.” 

It isn't expected that the House will pass the amended Senate Bill, but at least the lines of communication seem to be wide open for talks between now and the end of the current legislative session.

So...

The expansion of Mississippi sports betting will be ongoing, maybe right up until the last minute of the current sitting of the state legislature. Something has to be done for an industry that saw a 10.7% year-over-year drop in sports betting in 2023.

Tennessee, Louisiana, and Arkansas are taking Mississippi bettors thanks to the expansive mobile sports betting platforms in those states.

There is hope, however.

"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," Blount said. "But in the meantime, we certainly don't want to stop people from listening to each other and working."