Mississippi House passes mobile sports betting bill, sends it to Senate

The Mississippi House voted 100-11 Wednesday to approve the Mississippi Mobile Sports Wagering Act, sending the legislation to the Senate for consideration.

If enacted, the bill would tax mobile sports betting at 22%, up from 18.5%, aligning the state with the national average. The measure also reduces the state gaming tax from 8% to 6%, which casino officials say amounts to about a $48 million tax cut.

House Gaming Committee Chairman Rep. Casey Eure, a Republican, said mobile betting could bring in about $100 million annually. He added that the tax cut allows casinos to reinvest in their properties, pay raises to employees, and stay competitive. However, Eure noted that reinvestment is optional for casinos.

The bill allocates $50 million per year for 10 years to the Public Employees Retirement System, or PERS, which Eure described as “free money” not coming from the current state budget.

Eure cited Tennessee and Louisiana as comparable examples, noting Tennessee generated $125 million and Louisiana $102 million from mobile sports betting last year. He estimated Mississippi could reach $100 million annually at the proposed tax rate.

This is the second mobile sports betting bill passed by the House this session. The legislation addresses previous concerns raised by members and now moves to the Senate, where similar efforts have previously failed.

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