A bill to legalize online sports betting and ban sweepstakes casinos stalled in the Mississippi Senate, failing to escape committee review. An amended version of an earlier house bill, which included the sweepstakes ban alongside online sports betting, was introduced by Rep. Casey Eure. The ongoing disputes over tidelands—contested lands under tidal waters—complicate matters, significantly affecting waterfront casino proposals. Senate gaming committee chair David Blount opposed the expansion, indicating his support would hinge on the Mississippi Gaming Commission's request, amidst a split among legislators on sports betting issues.
"It's a possibility (that tidelands will not get addressed this year if the Senate does not take up mobile sports betting), but the House's position is on mobile sports betting," Eure told the Clarion Ledger.
"We're concerned about tidelands, but at this point, it's all about negotiating."
"The bill, however, received opposition from Senate gaming committee chair David Blount, who said he would only vote on a sports betting expansion bill at the request of the Mississippi Gaming Commission."
"Sports betting is legal in Mississippi, but only at live sportsbooks. Online sports betting has been a point of contention, splitting legislators over the last few years."
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