Mississippi’s online sports betting legislation faces uncertain future in 2025
The future of online sports betting in Mississippi is unclear, with certain political figures indicating a reluctance to introduce new legislation in the upcoming legislative session. A report by Clarion Ledger cited Senate Gaming Committee Chairman David Blount saying he will not file any legislation regarding online sports betting unless the Mississippi Gaming Commission asks him to do so.
Blount said any senator could introduce such a bill, which would then be vetted through the Gaming Committee. He said that the House of Representatives has been very receptive to gaming expansion, but the Senate doesn’t seem quite as receptive.
Mississippi Gaming Commission Executive Director Jay McDaniel confirmed to the Clarion Ledger that the Commission does not plan to request or recommend any legislation related to online sports betting. McDaniel explained that the Commission typically refrains from initiating bills, emphasizing its regulatory rather than legislative role.
McDaniel said, “I don’t believe the commission would take a position on supporting it. We would rely on whether it be the Senate Committee or the House Gaming Committee to introduce a measure like that… Obviously, we want the bill to be crafted in a way that works best for the state.”
Efforts to legalize online sports betting have been attempted in Mississippi before. In February of last year, a bill on the subject passed through the House with overwhelming support, 97-14.
However, the bill stalled in the Senate, where it was not touched for two months. It finally died over unresolved differences in its wording.
Currently, Mississippi allows for online sports betting, but with significant restrictions. Bettors must be on in-state casino premises to place wagers online. The limitation puts Mississippi far from others that allow mobile sports betting platforms to operate anywhere within state lines.
