Mississippi is taking an approach done by a few other jurisdictions in the sports betting industry. Following Gov. Tate Reeves‘ signing of a law mandating the study, a sports wagering task force in the Hospitality State will examine legislative options that extend beyond casino walls.
Mississippi to Conduct An Online Sports Betting Study
Before the online sports betting launch in Maryland, the commission conducted a disparity study, and Georgia is trying to pass a bill during its legislative session to create a wagering study committee.
HB 606 easily cleared both the state House and Senate chambers in February after making some key amendments to the initiative. By Dec. 15, 2023, 13 state legislators must prepare a “comprehensive analysis of all matters related to online sports betting.”
The report will be made public in the process. At the moment, sports wagering in the state is only available in retail locations in the state. This means that geo-fencing is in effect, and those outside the facilities cannot place bets.
The bill would have legalized online sports betting in Mississippi in its original form. However, the House Committee on Appropriations replaced it with language to study sports betting before it went to the floor.
The SEC Region is Starting to Pick the Pace
The sports betting legislation in the South is starting to pick up, as numerous jurisdictions failed in the previous year. Creating a sports betting study has become a common ground in the industry, as numerous internal and external factors come into play.
Problem gambling and how the addition of the sports betting operation will affect the surrounding areas. States in the SEC region have struggled to make roughly any progress compared to other regions in the country.
In the early portion of 2022, Tennessee was the only prominent market to have a legalized sports betting market that shares a border with Mississippi. Tennessee has been a key contributor to the sector because the state only offers mobile sports betting, which is convenient for visitors.
Now, the sports gambling operation is available in Arkansas and Louisiana. Louisiana is the only major market in the Gulf that sits between Florida and Texas. The Seminole Tribe quietly launched the Hard Rock Sportsbook app but was quickly halted via a court case. On the other hand, the sports betting push in Texas is still an uphill battle as any bill faces heavy opposition.
Georgia and North Carolina are trying to push their respective measures forward. Looking from afar, lawmakers in the Tar Heel State are having more success compared to the Peach State.
Can Mississippi Get It Done This Year?
There were four sports betting bills considered by the Mississippi legislature last year, but none made it through any committees. Mobile wagering has been discussed by state legislators nearly every year since its launch without much progress.
The task force will be made up of officials appointed by the state Gaming Commission. Under the structure of the bill, the names will be finalized by July 31st.
