, sponsored by Rep. Casey Eure, was passed by the committee on Tuesday as lawmakers seek to expand the current gaming laws which only allow for sports betting in person or through a mobile device at a physical retail sportsbook.
The bill had previously been approved in the House by a vote of 97-14 in February following several amendments. The Senate now has until April 11th to pass the legislation fully.
Speaking in Tuesday’s committee meeting Sen. David Blount said:
“If people are talking, it’s a good thing. We want to continue to let them do that. We want to continue to move the bill along. There are a lot of issues that we need to consider from the perspective of the industry and also from the perspective of the consumer that we will do if we get to the point where we might be able to get something done this year.”
The bill would allow for each of the state’s 26 casinos to partner with a sportsbook operator for online sports betting in Mississippi. The tax rate for mobile wagering would be set at 12% and estimates suggest that the mobile industry could be worth as much as $35 million a year in taxes for the state.
Mississippi Online Sports Betting Inches Closer as Committee Passes Bill
An experienced iGaming commentator and analyst based in New York City - Jenny reports on regulation and gambling industry news and events.