Mississippi legislators are making another attempt to legalize online sports wagering. A representative named Cedric Burnett has proposed a piece of legislation that would permit businesses within the state to accept wagers on sporting events via the internet. This marks the fourth time Mississippi has endeavored to achieve this outcome.
The proposed legislation would modify existing laws to authorize “digital platforms” to accept sports bets. These platforms would encompass companies that facilitate wagering on sporting events or horse races through online channels.
Businesses that currently operate casinos in Mississippi would have the option of offering online sports betting themselves, or they could collaborate with other online entities to handle wagers on their behalf. The bill does not specify the maximum number of companies a casino can partner with, but it appears that the limit might be restricted to a single entity.
Companies seeking to collaborate with casinos would be required to obtain authorization from the state Gaming Commission and secure a specialized license.
The state of Mississippi will levy a tax on online sports betting proceeds, mirroring the rates applied to other forms of gambling within the state. This tax structure involves a 4% rate on monthly revenue not exceeding $50,000, a 6% rate on revenue between $50,000 and $134,000, and an 8% rate for operators generating higher revenue.
The proposed legislation has been forwarded to two legislative bodies: the House Gaming Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee.
Mississippi was among the early adopters of legalized sports betting in the United States, commencing operations in August 2018. However, despite numerous attempts to introduce it, online gambling remains prohibited.
In 2019, Representative Burnett introduced a bill – House Bill 1481 – aimed at legalizing online gambling. However, the bill failed to advance beyond the committee stage and did not reach the floor for debate.
In 2020, Burnett again put forth a bill – House Bill 172 – with the same outcome.
Last year, Senator Scott DeLano presented a bill authorizing online and mobile betting. Once again, the bill met its demise in committee without receiving a hearing.
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