Mississippi's Push for Online Sports Betting Hits a Roadblock
Online Sports Betting Bill in Mississippi Has Collapsed; Proposed Ban on Sweepstakes Remains Stalled
The Mississippi legislature's dream of legalizing online sports betting has hit a speed bump. The latest attempt, Senate Bill 2510 (S.B. 2510), failed to pass before the March 31 deadline. This comes after a unanimous Senate vote in February, followed by a turbulent ride through the Mississippi House of Representatives.
At first, S.B. 2510 aimed to crack down on online gambling, particularly sweepstakes casinos. However, when it reached the House, lawmakers threw a curveball by adding provisions for statewide online sports betting. The Senate, wary of these alterations, vetoed the amendments, leading to the formation of a conference committee.
By Monday night, the Mississippi legislature's website confirmed the bill's demise.
A Setback for Online Gambling Expansion
With S.B. 2510 off the table, the push for online sports betting in Mississippi will have to wait until at least 2026. The failed bill also means no immediate ban on sweepstakes casinos, though regulators could potentially take independent action.
The opposition to online sports betting originates from concerns about its potential impact on Mississippi's land-based casino industry. While sports betting is legal in the state, it's only accessible at brick-and-mortar casinos. Some legislators fret that expanding online sports betting statewide might erode in-person gambling revenues.
The Rollercoaster Ride Continues
The House previously tried to pass an online sports betting bill in February, but it met a similar fate in a Senate committee. Attaching the proposal to an anti-sweepstakes bill proved unsuccessful.
As the Mississippi legislature prepares to adjourn on April 6, online sports betting and sweepstakes casino regulation remain unsettled. Until new legislation gathers momentum, Mississippi bettors will be confined to in-person wagering at licensed casinos.
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The veto of the amendments in the conference committee has led to the failure of Senate Bill 2510, placing a hold on the expansion of online sports betting in Mississippi until at least 2026. Meanwhile, the potential ban on sweepstakes casinos has been delayed, leaving their operations unaffected for the time being.
