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Efforts to Expand Mississippi’s Legal Sports Betting Gaining Steam

Davis Isabela

Updated as of January 26, 2024 at 4:50 PM EST, this article is a quick 2 minute and 9 second read. For more information, you can also check out the Twitter and Google News links provided.

Jaxson Dart of the Mississippi Rebels drops back to pass as we look at the latest regarding Mississippi sports betting.
Jaxson Dart of the Mississippi Rebels drops back to pass against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images via AFP.

Mississippi legislators are once again pushing to broaden their legal sports betting offerings beyond the current limited retail and mobile options that have been in place since August 2018.

Online betting is currently taking place within the 28 licensed casinos in Mississippi, but it is not yet legal outside of these physical properties. If expanded, the platform would be allowed throughout the entire state, not limited to just casino grounds.

Lawmakers have introduced two new Mississippi sports betting bills in the past week, aiming to allow betting from home. With strong support for expanding the platform, more bills may be on the way.

Rep. Jay McKnight unveiled his version of a proposed mobile sports betting industry in Mississippi on Wednesday, which closely resembled a bill put forth by Rep. Cedric Burnett the previous week.

Mississippi Sports Betting Task Force connection

The two Mississippi sports betting bills recently introduced in the state legislature both come from members of the Mississippi Sports Betting Task Force. This task force, consisting of 13 members, was established last year to study and analyze the potential advantages and disadvantages of expanding legal sports betting in the state.

The panel conducted thorough investigations on the topic and engaged with all relevant parties involved in a possible mobile sports betting platform, including Mississippi casino owners, sports betting operators, and legislators with varying viewpoints on the matter.

The committee generated a 95-page report, with the majority in favor of the idea to expand sports betting to include mobile operators, although there were a few who were not supportive.

One thing that can be inferred from the proposals of Rep. Jay McKnight and Rep. Burnett is that they are knowledgeable and prioritize the well-being of all Mississippi stakeholders. Both lawmakers rank among the top 13 most informed individuals in Mississippi regarding the potential effects of their proposed platform on the state.

HB 365 and HB 271

As previously stated, the two bills introduced within the past week to legalize or expand mobile sports betting in Mississippi are identical in their proposals.

Each casino in Mississippi has the opportunity to either create their own mobile betting platform or collaborate with popular sports betting apps like DraftKings or FanDuel, as well as other licensed providers in the competitive American market.

Both parties are planning to launch a mobile sports betting platform on July 1, in order to iron out any issues and have it ready for the start of the NFL season next year.

A tiered tax system would be implemented, where providers with lower incomes would pay lower taxes. The tax rates would be as follows: 4% of gross revenue up to $50,000 per month, 6% of gross revenue exceeding $50,000 but not exceeding $134,000 per month, and 8% of gross revenue exceeding $134,000 per month.

What Mississippi expansion would mean

It is well-known that implementing a mobile platform would significantly boost sports betting handle, sportsbook revenues, and tax contributions for top sportsbooks in Mississippi.

The Mississippi Sports Betting Task Force, the Committee responsible for creating new sports wagering initiatives, estimated that a comprehensive state legal sports betting industry could generate up to $27.1 million in tax revenue. This represents a significant increase from current betting site revenues.

Burnett’s bill is projected to generate $5.1 million in taxes for FY 2025 and $12.6 million in FY 2029.

Written By:
Davis Isabela
Davis Isabela is the Editor-in-Chief of Underscoreg Review. He has been a writer, reporter and editor for more than 20 years, and his work has appeared in more than 200 publications across North America. His first book, “100 Greatest Canadian Sports Moments”, was a hardcover best-seller in Canada in 2008. He has written more than 50 sportsbook reviews and dozens of other sportsbook-related content articles. James has also been quoted as a sports betting expert in USA Today and Sports Illustrated.