In Mississippi, the house has addressed two senate bills to give consideration to legal sports betting, in addition to a ban on sweepstakes.
The proposed legislation has been returned to the Senate for further deliberation.
In the Magnolia State, the gambling system is tightly controlled, but some lawmakers believe it is time to negotiate and liberalize the framework.
Rep. Casey Eure is one of the proponents.
Retail betting has been permitted in Mississippi casinos since 2018, but there is no provision for mobile betting. BetMGM is the only sportsbook authorized to offer online betting, but wagers can only be placed on restricted casino grounds to access their app or website.
Eure’s sponsored bill wants to open up the gambling landscape to provide some more options for digital betting.
New sections were inserted into the legislation to define internet gambling, with existing casinos to be granted up to two digital offerings for sportsbooks and racing.
The legislation would permit a full roster of bet options, including in-play betting and parlays, with the legal age set at 21.
No tax rate has been indicated at this stage.
Local casino enterprises, owned by major companies such as Churchill Downs and Penn Entertainment, are opposing the plans for online expansion, insisting it will hurt their businesses and the interests of the brick-and-mortar venues.
Their position has been a consistent one across expansion in other states, including nearby Louisiana.
It’s all about negotiating
Other items on the agenda include fines for illegal betting and tidelands.
The “tidelands bill” determines where casinos can be built, the investment required to build a casino on the Coast, and the responsibility and jurisdiction, including control of local harbors.
“It’s a possibility” that tidelands will not get addressed this year if the senate passes mobile sports betting”, said Eure.
“But the house’s position is on mobile sports betting. We’re concerned about tidelands, but at this point, it’s all about negotiating.”
SB2510 passed the senate on February 13, including provisions to ban “online sweepstake casinos”.
Those found guilty of operating sweepstake platforms would be liable for a fine of up to $100,000 and up to 10 years in prison, if convicted.
Any legal entities involved could also have their Mississippi operating license revoked.
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