Mississippi Introduces New Bills to Legalize Online Sports Betting
Date: 2024-01-27 Author: Dima Zakharov Categories: SPORTS BETTING
Mississippi's Push for Online Sports Betting
Mississippi, known for its vibrant gambling scene, is making a fresh attempt to expand its sports betting offerings. In 2018, the state legalized sports betting following the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). However, online sports betting has been limited to geofenced sportsbooks within land-based casinos.
New Bills Aim to Bring Online Betting to Mississippi
Two new bills, HB271 and HB635, have been introduced by Reps. Cedric Burnett and Jay McKnight, respectively. These bills seek to change the current landscape by allowing residents to bet on sports using their mobile devices, even if they are not within a casino.
Multiple Attempts to Legalize Online Betting
This marks the sixth attempt to introduce online sports betting in Mississippi. House Bill 606, signed into law last year, authorized a sports betting task force to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the industry. While the initial bill aimed to partner all land-based casinos with online sportsbooks, it underwent significant revisions in committee.
Mississippi's Shrinking Sports Betting Market
The potential introduction of online wagering comes as Mississippi's sports betting market experienced a challenging end to 2023. December's handle dropped by 34.3% compared to the previous year, and revenue was down by 56.6% year-on-year. Online betting could provide a much-needed boost to the state's gambling industry, attracting new players and revenue.
