Mississippi legislators are once again attempting to legalize online sports wagering. A Mississippi representative has proposed a piece of legislation that would permit residents of the state to place bets on sporting events through the internet. This marks the fourth time the state has sought to implement this change.
The proposed legislation would modify Mississippi law to allow “digital platforms” to accept wagers on sporting events. These platforms would function as online venues for placing bets on sports or horse racing.
Establishments currently authorized to accept bets in Mississippi could provide online betting services themselves, or other online entities could handle bets on their behalf. The bill does not explicitly specify the number of companies a licensed establishment can collaborate with, but it appears they may be restricted to a single partnership.
Companies partnering with licensed establishments would require approval from the state Gaming Commission and would need to obtain a special license.
The state of Mississippi will levy a tax on online sports betting earnings that mirrors the rates applied to other forms of gambling. This means a 4% tax on the initial $50,000 of monthly gross earnings, a 6% tax on earnings between $50,000 and $134,000, and an 8% tax on earnings exceeding that threshold.
The proposed legislation has been sent to two legislative bodies: the House Gaming Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee.
Mississippi was among the initial US states to legalize sports betting, with the law taking effect in August 2018. However, online gambling remains prohibited, despite numerous attempts to introduce it.
Burnett first proposed an online gambling bill in 2019 – House Bill 1481. However, the bill was shelved by the committee and never reached the floor for debate.
In 2020, Burnett presented another bill, House Bill 172, which met the same fate.
Last year, Senator Scott DeLano put forward a bill that would have permitted online and mobile wagering. This bill, too, was dismissed by the committee without a hearing.
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