Here we go again.
The Mississippi House of Representatives passed an online sports betting bill on Monday, the second year in a row that’s happened during the annual legislative sitting in Jackson.
House Bill 1302 would authorize mobile sportsbooks and racebooks in Mississippi via partnerships with the state’s brick-and-mortar casinos.
After some revisions in committee, H.B. 1302 would also set aside as much as $6 million a year for casinos to make them whole for any online sports betting-related losses.
Take it to the (other) house
But getting through the House – which voted 89-11 in favor of the bill – was arguably the easy part. Legalizing online sports betting in Mississippi will require more buy-in from the legislature’s other chamber, the Senate, if it is to become a reality in the Magnolia State.
An online sports betting bill was passed by the Mississippi House last year in early February as well. However, the legislation then stalled in the Senate and died in a conference committee as lawmakers haggled over its provisions. Time will tell if H.B. 1302 can avoid the same fate.
An innovative piece of legislation in Jackson is proposing to legalize online sports betting but also create a "Retail Sports Wagering Protection Fund":
— Geoff Zochodne (@GeoffZochodne) February 3, 2025
Can Online Sports Betting Cash Sway Mississippi Casino Operators? https://t.co/fUNV5O3SLa @Covers
Nevertheless, there are provisions in H.B. 1302 that seem designed to smooth over concerns brick-and-mortar casino operators may have with statewide mobile sports betting, such as the "Retail Sports Wagering Protection Fund."
Online sports wagering licenses would also be "tethered" to brick-and-mortar casinos.
Currently, legal sports betting in Mississippi must be conducted at physical casino properties. There are lingering worries about what that will mean for those businesses if sports bettors don’t have to drive there.
The Mississippi legislature is scheduled to sit until April 6.
