Mississippi Online Betting Bills Stall in Senate Committee

Mobile sports betting won’t be coming to the Magnolia State in 2026.

The Mississippi Senate Gambling Committee received two bills to legalize online sports betting from the House, but it won’t vote on them before the legislative session ends in April. While both bills saw increased support amid fears of prediction markets, questions about tax revenue are stalling the effort once again in the Senate.

The bills proposed markets with two different tax rates, as well as a break for brick-and-mortar casinos that would lose business to mobile betting.

Familiar Foe Takes Center Stage Once Again

The biggest hurdle to online sports betting becoming law is Senator David Blount. The Democrat has been opposed to expanding sports betting to include mobile for some time. While concerns over problem gambling factor in, the Gambling Committee chair’s bigger objection involves projections over the tax revenue online betting would generate. 

Blount cast doubt on projections of $40-$60 million in state taxes in the first year. He believes these numbers are exaggerated and argues that the actual numbers wouldn’t offset the projected $50 million in lost tax revenue from casino tax cuts.

As chair of the committee, Blount has the power to ensure that neither bill will see a vote to advance. 

Impact of Prediction Markets Not Given Enough Weight

One of the committee chair’s biggest concerns is the estimated impact sports prediction markets would have on a regulated market. Many residents in the state have already been using these controversial platforms, which allow them a legal way to bet on sports from their mobile devices.

Blount believes the House didn’t correctly account for that impact, leading them to concede too much to the casino industry. 

The current administration in Washington essentially legalized national betting through prediction markets, and they cannot be taxed or regulated by any state across the nation. The impact of prediction markets means traditional platforms will lose market share.

The argument from mobile betting proponents is that the ban is no longer effective and is instead costing the state money. Legalizing a regulated market would help protect bettors while also funding improvements for the state’s problem gaming programs.

Blount Preaches Patience As Panic Rises

Concerns over the growth of the prediction industry aren’t the only other factor driving the push for mobile betting.

Mississippi’s Public Employees Retirement System needs funding, and lawmakers are getting desperate for solutions. The mobile betting bills would have sent the majority of tax revenue to help fund the retirement system, ensuring that state employees are taken care of.

This is meant as a fix, but Blount and others fear the money won’t be there.

Blount shared a Tax Foundation estimate showing the state lost $50 million due to tax cuts for casinos. If the mobile betting industry generates less than $40 million, it would result in a net loss for Mississippi.