The Mississippi House of Representatives has gambled once again on a bill that would legalize mobile sports betting statewide.
Officials in the chamber voted 82-10 to pass House Bill 1302, familiarly dubbed the “Mississippi Sports Wagering Act,” on Monday. The legislation, according to author Rep. Casey Eure, R-Saucier, is reminiscent of the one passed by the House last year which was ultimately railroaded by the Senate, but with a few modifications.
If the bill is passed, people aged 21 and up would be allowed to legally bet on regulated athletic events from mobile devices — as can currently be done in casinos across the state. Mobile sports betting has been happening in Mississippi for years now, as reported by Mississippi Gaming Commission executive director Jay McDaniel. However, it has not been conducted legally and the state has not reaped any tax benefits.
According to Eure, Mississippi leads the nation in illegal online sports betting searches via Google and is one of 19 states that has not legalized online wagering outside of a brick-and-mortar gaming facility. Neighboring states, like Louisiana and Tennessee, secured a large sum of tax revenue from mobile sports betting last year. Tennessee generated nearly $100 million while Louisiana hauled in $64 million. Mississippi, on the other hand, acquired nothing.
“That just goes to show you that we’re losing a lot of tax revenue to these [illegal] online sports betting [platforms],” Eure said on the House floor Monday afternoon. “Once you pass and legalize mobile sports betting, the illegal sites are basically gone. Everybody goes to a brick-and-mortar casino and they start doing it the proper way.”
Revenue generated by mobile sports betting would be taxed at 12% with the lion’s share of the proceeds going to road and bridge repairs in all 82 Mississippi counties, per the text.
Last year, the Mobile Sports Wagering Act permitted casinos to partner with one online sports betting platform, such as DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM. This year, the legislation allows Mississippi casinos to link with up to two platforms. The goal is to protect existing casinos
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