Mississippi, standing at the threshold of a groundbreaking shift in its approach to sports wagering, has received two proposed legislations for online sports wagering. At the core of the new legislative pursuit is Representative Casey Eure, who is charting the course for an all-inclusive sports wagering activity in the state. However, Eure’s proposal is not alone as fellow lawmakers, including Democrat Rep. Cedric Burnett and Republican Rep. Jay McKnight, have unveiled their respective legislations (HB 271 and HB 635) to usher in a new era of online sports betting.

The aforementioned two proposals, if approved, could reshape the Magnolia State’s gambling landscape, opening avenues for mobile wagering under the observant eye of existing license holders.

The state’s journey towards legal sports wagering started in 2018, with geo-fenced online sportsbooks getting their place within casino confines. Now, with the legislative wheels in motion, industry insiders are quite optimistic that the state could be among the many others that have already officially approved sports wagering bills. Based on the insights gathered by the Mississippi Mobile Online Sports Betting Task Force, Rep. Eure has tabled several recommendations into his legislation, echoing a commitment to push the effort in the direction of legal sports wagering. While uncertainties continue to linger, the upcoming legislative sessions hold the promise of a landmark decision for the Magnolia State.

In a meeting of the task force in October, Eure said, “Now, I can’t sit here and tell you for sure that it’s gonna pass the House and I’ll be able to send it to the Senate, but I wanted everybody to know where I stood from day one.”

The proposed legislations seek to amend the Gaming Control Act to pave the way for gaming operators in the state to introduce their sportsbooks or form alliances with operators. A perilous aspect is the elimination of restrictions on daily fantasy sports operators concerning rivalries involving college athletes. Delving into the tax framework, these legislations propose a multi-tiered structure, which will range from 4 per cent on income up to $50,000 to 8 per cent on income exceeding $134,000. Aligned with the task force's recommendations, this taxation model will potentially generate $27.1 million in annual tax revenue for the state.

While the intricate legislative journey endeavors to unfold, the fate of online sports wagering in the Magnolia State hangs in the balance, poised between potential approval and lingering uncertainty. Thus, the spotlight in currently on the government as the decisions made in the state legislature in the coming sessions will shape the destiny of the state's gambling landscape for years to come.