Mobile Sports Betting Bill Dies in Mississippi

For the third consecutive year, there was a big push to legalize mobile sports betting in the state of Mississippi. For the third consecutive year, said legalization will not make it out of Congress.

The current legislative bills in question are HB 4074 (Mississippi Mobile Sports Wagering Act) and SB 2104. It's noteworthy that these two bills are not congruent with one another.

HB 4074, presented by House Gaming Committee Chairman Casey Eure, R-Saucier, sought to make changes to a bill that was presented in 2024. The changes included changing the tax rate charged on gross sports betting revenue to 22%. Also, the bill sought to lower tax rates charged to brick-and-mortar casinos from 8% to 6%. The explanation for lowering this rate was to theoretically protect them from lost revenue at the expense of mobile sports betting operators.

Meanwhile, SB 2104 sought to address a different issue that is becoming quite prominent across the nation. This bill was looking to place a ban on online sweepstakes casinos. In the mind of Senate Gaming Committee Chairman David Blount, D-Jackson, the state should oppose all forms of online gambling because it does nothing to drive the tourism and physical investment that was expected to benefit Mississippi’s gaming industry when retail casinos were legalized.

Both bills failed to progress because both chambers of Congress refused to consider the other chamber's bills with due consideration of their own bills. As the standoff progressed, the meter ran out on both bills, effectively tossing both bills in the trash.

Primary Issue with House Bill

HB 4074 was presented with the intention of raising tax revenue for the benefit of the state's Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS). It was estimated that the bill could raise as much as $50 million for this purpose alone.

House Speaker Jason White argued enthusiastically that legalizing mobile sports betting would allow the state to capture tax revenue that has been historically lost to illegal offshore markets. Critics argue against this, claiming that the newly formed prediction markets made any such claims unreliable.

Time to Stand Up and Be Counted

Mississippi is one of the very few Southern states that has yet to legalize mobile sports betting. With that being the case, a lot of sports betting dollars are crossing over into neighboring states that are currently benefitting from the related tax revenue. It's noteworthy that both Tennessee and Louisiana will continue to collect tens of millions in mobile sports betting-related tax revenue that is being generated by avid sports bettors from the Rebel state.

With the 2026 legislative session officially closed, mobile sports betting legalization will have to wait at least one more year. This will give proponents time to regroup and come up with a proposal that addresses all legislative concerns. If the House and Senate can find some middle ground, there is a reasonable chance that Mississippi residents will be able to wager on their favorite sports teams by the end of the year.