Mississippi House Easily Passes Online Sports Betting Bill

• The Mississippi House convincingly passed an online sports betting bill on Thursday that would expand sports betting outside of casino property.
• Mississippi House Bill 774, also known as the Mississippi Mobile Sports Wagering Act, now heads to the Mississippi Senate for approval.
• The Magnolia State expects to make roughly $30 million annually in sports betting tax revenue.

JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi House passed an online sports betting bill on Thursday that would expand online sports betting statewide. Mississippi House Bill 744 easily passed with a 97-14 vote, advancing the legal sports betting bill to the Mississippi Senate.

Sen. Casey Eure’s sports betting bill, recognized as the Mississippi Mobile Sports Wagering Act, would allow Mississippi’s 26 casinos to partner with sports betting operators for mobile betting off casino property. Current Mississippi sports betting laws allow for online sports betting only at the casino, but MS HB 774 would expand online sports betting throughout the state.

Improved Infrastructure + Competition Influences Approval

The overwhelming votes in favor of MS HB 774 stems from the economic and infrastructural benefits provided to the state. Mississippi expects to generate anywhere from $25 million to $35 million annually in sports betting tax revenue if the bill is successful.

Eure’s sports betting bill includes a tiered-tax system for operators that dedicates 4% for the road and bridges fund. Depending on monthly revenue, Mississippi sports betting operators would pay up to 12% in adjusted gross sports betting revenue.

Increasing pressure from nearby states making legalization efforts also influenced the lopsided vote. Eure made note in his endorsement of his bill that a Georgia sports betting bill passed in the Senate that morning.

Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee are three states with sports betting that border Mississippi, encouraging Mississippi lawmakers to remain competitive. The Mississippi Mobile Sports Wagering Act now heads to the Senate, where its passage would lead to the bill taking effect as soon as July.

News tags: Casey Eure | Mississippi | Mississippi Mobile Sports Wagering Act | MS HB 774