Lawmakers are rethinking online mobile sports betting in Mississippi
Expectations are high that online sports betting will face scrutiny in Mississippi in the new year. Experts warn that this kind of game has been played many times in Mulan State and lost many times.
House Gaming Committee Chairman Casey Eure, a Republican, said he plans to pass a bill during the 2024 session to legalize mobile sports betting.
Rep. Eure (R-Saucier) unveiled his plan during the final meeting of the 2023 Legislature’s Mobile Online Sports Betting Task Force. However, there are still many unanswered questions about what legalizing this form of gambling would look like in Mississippi.
Jay McDaniel, executive director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission, said bills have been introduced every year since 2018. However, none of the committee's proposals entered actual debate.
Your guess is as good as mine as to whether we'll be able to do that," McDaniel said."So I think you can expect the bill in January. The question is whether the bill will actually go to committee for passage. "
Democratic Sen. David Blount, who is also a member of the task force, said the bill, no matter how it is drafted, is intended to protect the state's already successful gambling industry.
"When it comes to gambling in Mississippi, my primary interest is protecting the jobs of the tens of thousands of Mississippians who work in this important industry that has a significant impact on the economy," Blount said. "How mobile betting will impact at this point?"
The 2024 regular session of the Mississippi Legislature will be held on January 2 at 12:00 p.m. The deadline for introducing general bills is February 19.
Regulations and resistance have formed
Mississippi became one of the first states in the country to allow sports betting after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in May 2018 legalizing gambling. As previously reported, not all members of the state's 13-member task force believe in integrating internet sports betting into Mississippi's gambling industry.
Some lawmakers worry that mobile sports betting could threaten destination gambling.Mississippi Gaming Commission reported more than $272 million in tax revenue for fiscal year 2023.
Mississippi casinos also continue to clash with lawmakers over online sports betting. Brick-and-mortar casinos are the strongest opponents of online sports betting in the state.
Chris Hopwood, director of racing and sports betting at Pearl River Resorts, is just one of the casino executives urging lawmakers to oppose the expansion of sports betting. Hopwood said the move would hurt brick-and-mortar casinos and revenue would leave the state.
Supporters present their arguments
The state's 26 casinos, some operated by Penn Entertainment and Caesars, already accept online sports betting. They say bettors are migrating to neighboring states such as Arkansas, Tennessee and Louisiana where online betting is legal.
represent. Yule said his goal was to “protect the entity.”
The results of the Mobile Online Sports Betting Task Force are due to the state Legislature by Dec. 15.
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Source: www.casino.org
