The Mississippi House of Representatives recently passed House Bill 1302, which aims to legalize online sports betting in the state. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Casey Eure, received overwhelming support with a vote of 88-10 and will now move to the Senate for further consideration. If passed, the bill would establish the Mississippi Mobile Sports Wagering Act, allowing each brick-and-mortar casino to be tethered to two online sports betting platforms.
One of the key provisions of the bill is the creation of the Mobile Sports Wagering Tax Fund, which would allocate revenue to support small retail casinos struggling with the shift to online wagering. The bill proposes a tax revenue of 12% from sports betting, with an estimated $25 million in tax revenue expected to be generated. Additionally, the bill includes regulations such as a minimum age requirement of 21 and geofencing technology to ensure that only players located in Mississippi can place bets.
However, the bill faced opposition from House Minority Leader Robert Johnson, who questioned the distribution of tax revenue across all 82 counties in the state. He argued that counties with casinos should benefit more from the revenue. Despite the opposition, Rep. Eure remains optimistic about a potential launch date of December 8, 2025, giving time for all stakeholders to prepare for the implementation of online sports wagering.
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