Mobile sports betting won’t happen this year, putting MS behind other states in the South
Bills introduced in the Mississippi Legislature this year call for slot machines in airports and truck stops to boost state revenues and online sports betting to keep pace with Louisiana.
But what is the likelihood of any of them passing this year?
Unless someone throws a “Hail Mary” pass to the end zone, none of the three will be voted on this session, said Casey Eure, chairman of the House Gaming Committee.
“I think we’ve hit a roadblock,” he said of online sports betting.
The deadline is Tuesday for the sports betting legislation to come out of committee or die and Eure said, “It’s not coming out.”
He confirmed Tuesday mobile sports betting died in committee.
“Me personally — I would love to see it,” said Eure, who introduced one of the bills to permit mobile sports betting.
About five casino operators throughout the state are not on board with allowing people to bet on their phones and computers, he said, instead of the current system that requires bets to be placed inside casinos.
Truck stop bets
Neither will HB 1262 come out of committee, he said. It was introduced by Democrat Rep. Earle Banks, who represents District 67 in the Jackson area, where casinos aren’t permitted. The bill would allow up to 10 “skill terminal devices” in qualified truck stops throughout the state.
Unlike slot machines at casinos that rely on chance, these skill games present a challenge to the player that can’t be skipped to proceed, according to the legislation.
The bill was referred to the Gaming and Appropriations committees.
“Nothing in this act shall be deemed a game, gambling game or gaming device under the Mississippi Gaming Control Act,” the bill says. Oversight of the proposed program would have been under the Mississippi Lottery Corporation rather than the Mississippi Gaming Commission that oversees the state casinos.
Games in airports
The same fate likely awaits SB 2859 that would have permitted slot machines in airports offering passenger service. It was introduced by Republican John Polk, who represents Hattiesburg, and was referred to the Gaming Committee.
“I’m definitely opposed to that,” Eure said.
Voters chose to allow casinos in Mississippi in the 1990s, he said, but only in certain counties along the Mississippi River and on the Gulf Coast.
Eure said that vote should be honored and gambling shouldn’t be allowed outside those areas
The bill proposed traditional slot machines at airports throughout the state, under the oversight of the Gaming Commission.
Online sports betting next year?
“Heavy action” was reported for the first weekend of online sports betting in Louisiana, just in time for the football playoffs and ahead of the Super Bowl.
Mississippi took the lead in sports betting in August 2018, when it became the fourth state — and the only one in the South — to legalize sports betting. Now Mississippi is behind Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee and many other states in allowing online sports betting.
Eure said he can see online sports betting in Louisiana having some impact on Mississippi casinos.
“I guess we will just have to see the data,” he said. “I don’t think another year’s going to be a big difference.”
HB 997 that was introduced by Eure and SB 2652, introduced by Sen. Scott DeLano, R-Biloxi, are similar and would have allowed online sports betting only with licensed casinos in the state. Other bills also were introduced to permit mobile sports betting.
Part of his job as chairman of the Gaming Committee, Eure said, is to protect the investment the brick and mortar casinos have made in the state.
Eure said he believes the casinos operators, through the Mississippi Gaming and Hospitality Association, continue to discuss mobile sports betting.
“I think they’re all working toward it,” he said.
The Legislature also will vote on SN 33, the governor’s appointment of Al Hopkins as chairman of the Gaming Commission for another four-year term, ending Sept. 2025
This story was originally published January 31, 2022 at 11:22 AM.
