The state legislature took a significant step towards legalizing Mississippi online sports betting. The House of Representatives passed a bill allowing online sports wagering in the Magnolia State. Also, they passed House Bill 774, or the Mississippi Mobile Sports Wagering Act, last Thursday with a vote of 97-14.
Internet gambling sites like DraftKings and FanDuel would be able to enter partnerships with casinos in Mississippi to provide sports betting services to residents of the Magnolia State. Players from any part of the state may utilize whatever casino or platform they choose.
Sports betting is currently only available at Mississippi casinos. The only way to place bets online is through the casino’s app, which can only be accessed when physically present at the gambling facility. Thus, some entrepreneurs are learning how to start a sportsbook business in preparation for legalizing mobile betting.
Mississippi House Gaming Committee head and Republican Casey Eure noted that of the approximately $64 billion wagered illegally online in the United States annually, around 5% of that total comes from Mississippi. If the reports from PayPerHeadGenius.com are believed, this amounts to around $3 billion in unlicensed wagers.
Mississippi Online Sports Betting Bill
Although sports betting inside Mississippi casinos started on August 1, 2018, betting outside of casinos remained outlawed due to concerns that permitting internet sports betting may impact casinos’ bottom line.
House Minority Whip Robert Johnson of Natchez (D-MS) voiced his concern that the best online sportsbooks will prefer working with the bigger casinos along the Mississippi River rather than the smaller ones in his region.
According to an amendment by Johnson, any online sports betting within forty miles of a casino would be guaranteed a share of the profits. Johnson deemed legalized online sports betting in Mississippi “inevitable,” and he voted in favor of the measure even though Republicans had already postponed the amendment. After that, the House and Senate will debate HB774 until April 2.
Legislator Brice Wiggins of Pascagoula expressed some reservations about the bill’s chances of passing the Senate, even though it has received tremendous support in the House.
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