
Key points:
- Several attempts have been made to bring in mobile sports wagering but have failed in the past
- Retail sports wagering is legal throughout the state
The Mississippi House recently passed legislation in favor of legal mobile sports betting, according to a Mississippi Today local news report.
This is the second consecutive year the House has approved legal mobile sports wagering legislation. The House passed the current proposal, a new version of the Mississippi Mobile Sports Wagering Act, by a vote of 88-10 after it was approved by the House Gaming Committee.
According to the local report, House Gaming Chairman Representative Casey Eure told lawmakers, “As I told y’all last year, I’m committed to, and this bill is committed to our bricks-and-mortar casinos.
“All mobile sports betting will still be tethered to bricks-and-mortar casinos in the state of Mississippi.”
In previous years, legislative negotiators were not able to advance a final mobile sports betting proposal.
During the state’s 2024 legislative session, both the Senate and the House passed versions of the state’s Mobile Sports Wagering Act.
But concerns surrounding the fate of Mississippi’s brick-and-mortar casinos kept the bill from further advancement.
The bill will now move to the Senate for approval.
Good to know: Retail sports betting has been legal in Mississippi for several years
The Mississippi Gaming Commission recently published its sports betting results for the month of December.
Last month, the state’s sports betting handle reached $56.4m. Mississippi players wagered less in December than during the previous month.
Players in the Coastal region placed the largest total wagers in contribution to last month’s overall state handle. The Central region grabbed the second-place spot last month.
In a breakdown of the state’s total sports betting handle from last month, those living in the Coastal region bet nearly $41.3m, while players in the Central and Northern regions wagered $9.9m and $5.2m respectively.
Online sports wagering is legal in 30 US states. Since the Supreme Court overturned PASPA, 38 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws authorizing retail sports betting and have opened commercial markets.