The Mississippi Senate has rejected a bill proposing to ban sweepstakes and legalize online sports betting, opting instead for a conference on SB 2,510 introduced by Senator Joey Fillingane. The bill seeks to outlaw online sweepstakes casinos and make offering them a felony offense, punishable by hefty fines, prison time, and asset forfeiture. The state is taking a strict stance on illegal online gambling while allowing land-based casinos to partner with online sportsbooks. The bill passed both the Senate and House but faced amendments related to incorporating sports wagering.
Representative Casey Eure amended SB 2,510 to include sports betting, which passed the House and returned to the Senate. However, concerns from retail betting locations and some industry stakeholders, along with opposition from Senate Gaming Committee Chair David Blount, have slowed progress. Blount will only approve an online sports betting bill if requested by the Mississippi Gaming Commission and disapproves of adding irrelevant topics to legislation.
The bill is currently in a conference between the Senate and House to potentially find a compromise before the legislative deadline on April 6. Despite hurdles and opposition, Fillingane’s bill received significant backing within the Senate initially, demonstrating strong support for efforts to regulate online gambling in Mississippi. The fate of online sports betting in the state remains uncertain as stakeholders navigate conflicting interests and concerns over cannibalization of existing betting locations.
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