Mississippi online sports betting expansion efforts are poised to resume in 2025, following previous legislative attempts that stalled in 2024. Despite strong initial support in the House with a 97-14 vote, the bill faced significant amendments in the Senate before ultimately failing to reach consensus.

Key developments and considerations include:

Current Status:

• Sports betting limited to retail sportsbooks at 26 commercial and tribal casinos
• State missing potential tax revenue from online betting
• Residents using illegal betting sites or traveling to neighboring states

Casino Industry Support:

• Major operators like MGM Resorts, Caesars, and Penn Entertainment back online expansion
• Mississippi's casino industry generates $2.5 billion in annual revenue
• Industry creates 33,000 jobs and $760 million in yearly tax revenue

Legislative Challenges:

• Disagreements over licensing and taxation methods
• Concerns about impact on physical casinos
• Questions about including online casino games
• Senate Gaming Committee Chair David Blount remains neutral pending specific legislation

Market Potential:

• New Jersey example shows online betting dominates market share
• NJ online sportsbooks handled $11.6 billion vs. $500 million retail (Jan-Nov 2024)
• Online betting generated $130.3 million in tax revenue compared to $2.8 million from retail

Looking Ahead:

• Mississippi joins Texas, Minnesota, and Georgia in considering sports betting legislation
• Currently 39 states plus D.C. have legalized sports betting
• 2024 saw minimal expansion with only Missouri legalizing

Success in 2025 will depend on legislators finding common ground between protecting existing casino interests and capturing the growing online betting market.

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