Legalized on-line sports activities betting is a step nearer in Mississippi. On Tuesday, the Home Gaming Committee accepted HB 774, the “Mississippi Cell Sports activities Wagering Act.”
The Mississippi State Home, in Jackson, above. Republican State Senator Casey Eure has launched a brand new invoice to legalize on-line sports activities betting within the Magnolia State. (Picture: Go to Jackson)
In-person sports activities wagering has been authorized within the Magnolia State since 2018. However on-line betting stays outlawed over worries cellular bets might erode on line casino income.
HB 774 would legalize cellular sports activities betting, however require bettors to make use of on-line providers from present casinos. Rep. Casey Eure (R – Saucier), Home Gaming Committee chairman, is the invoice’s main sponsor.
The primary objective is to guard our brick-and-mortar buildings,” Eure mentioned. “Each cellular sports activities wager can be tied to a brick-and-mortar constructing.”
Eure has been a key determine in transferring sports activities betting rules ahead because the Mississippi Cell On-line Sports activities Betting Job Drive assembly final October. There are 26 casinos in Mississippi, in line with the duty power.
The present Home proposal would require on-line sportsbooks like DraftKings or FanDuel to associate with a bodily on line casino earlier than prospects can take part in cellular betting.
The 122-member Home Chamber might vote on the measure this week.
Different Payments in Cell Sports activities Area
Eure’s is the third sports activities betting invoice launched within the Mississippi Home of Representatives within the final two weeks. However it’s the just one that’s garnered bipartisan assist.
Final week, Rep. Cedric Burnett (D) launched HB 271, whereas Rep. Jay McKnight (R) filed HB 625. The 2 similar payments create a tiered tax system primarily based on on-line sports activities betting income. Underneath their proposed system, income as much as $50K can be taxed at 4%, income as much as $134K can be taxed at 6%, and income of greater than $134K can be taxed at 8%.
Eure’s HB 774 would place a 12% tax on sports activities wagers, with 4% going towards the native municipality the place the sponsoring on line casino is positioned and eight% going to the state.
As reported in On line casino.org, Mississippi casinos stay at odds with lawmakers and oppose an enlargement of sports activities betting.
Home Minority Chief Democratic Rep. Robert Johnson III (D-Natchez) is anxious about smaller casinos being choked out of the market, with bigger casinos extra shortly partnering with sports activities betting outfits.
How A lot and How Quickly
Eure estimates the “Mississippi Cell Sports activities Wagering Act” might generate between $25 million and $35 million in income in the course of the first 12 months if enacted. He believes altering the present legal guidelines would undercut the affect of unlawful offshore sports activities betting platforms in Mississippi.
When you legalize cellular sports activities betting, you get rid of plenty of that unlawful market,” Eure mentioned.
In presenting his invoice, Eure famous that unlawful betting websites see about $64 billion in wagers yearly. Mississippi makes up 5% of that market, about $3 billion in unlawful bets.
The American Gaming Affiliation says cellular sports activities betting is authorized in 29 states and Washington, D.C.
If the Mississippi Home passes Eure’s proposal, the invoice will transfer to the Senate. Consideration within the Senate features a committee and a full vote on the Senate ground. If there are any amendments to the invoice in any method, it could return to the Home for approval.
