House attempts to keep mobile sports betting alive

BILOXI – For the second consecutive year, an attempt to legalize mobile sports betting in Mississippi collapsed in the Senate Gaming Commission as House Bill 1302 failed to advance on March 4.

Despite overwhelming support in the House, where it passed 89-11, the bill met the same fate as last year’s proposal, dying in committee without reaching the Senate floor.

Unwilling to let mobile sports betting die without a fight, House lawmakers introduced amendments to two seemingly unrelated Senate bills that previously passed the Senate unanimously.

Supporters say mobile sports betting would modernize the state’s gaming industry and boost tax revenue, while opponents raise concerns about economic impacts, gambling addiction and broader accessibility. But the divide isn’t just among lawmakers — it has also split the state’s casino industry, with operators taking opposing stances on the issue.
Industry perspectives: A divided casino landscape
According to Michael Bruffey, vice president and general counsel at Island View Casino Resort in Gulfport, seven casino companies representing nine locations oppose the expansion, while seven companies representing 16 locations support it.

Bruffey expressed concerns about how mobile betting could shift the industry’s dynamics: “We create a lot of jobs, generate a lot of tax revenue … we’ve put hundreds of millions of dollars in the ground here.”

Bruffey also cited recent polling data showing public skepticism. 

“Bradley Research had a poll back in January, and over 60% of the people polled do not want gaming in all 82 counties,” Bruffey said. “Close to 60% of those people don’t want online sports betting available in all 82 counties.”

Greg Badley, owner of data analytics firm Bradley Research Group and a University of Southern Mississippi faculty member, added mobile sports betting would have limited economic benefits.

“Mobile sports betting would yield little capital investment, wouldn’t create very many jobs (and) would provide probably marginal incremental tax revenue,” he said. “(It would) create no tourism and completely breach the initiative of the limited gambling reach in the state by permitting gaming in every part of the state,” Bradley said.

However, reports from Geocomply, a geofencing company that has consulted for the Mississippi Gaming Commission in the past, shows growing interest in mobile sports betting from Mississippians.

In the last two NFL seasons, Geocomply tracked thousands of Mississippians attempting to access legal sportsbooks:

— 2023-24 NFL season: 119,654.

— 2024-25 NFL season: 212,000.

Of the seven companies supporting mobile sports betting, six already have their own apps developed, while the remaining casino is partnered with the second-largest mobile sportsbook in the U.S.

— Caesar’s Sportsbook: Caesar’s Entertainment (Harrah’s Gulf Coast, Horseshoe Tunica, Isle of Capri Casino Hotel Lula, Trop Casino Greenville)

— BetMGM: MGM (Beau Rivage)

— ESPNBet and Score Bet: Penn Entertainment (Hollywood Casino & Resort Gulf Coast, Boomtown Casino Biloxi, Ameristar Hotel Vicksburg, Hollywood Casino & Hotel Tunica, 1st Jackpot Casino Tunica)

— Scarlet Pearl Sportsbook: Land Holdings (Scarlet Pearl)

— BallyBet: Bally’s Corporation (Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi, Bally’s Vicksburg)

— Boyd Sports: Boyd Gaming (IP Casino Resort Space – Biloxi, Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, Tunica)

— DraftKings partnership: Riverboat Corporation of Mississippi (Golden Nugget)

Economic considerations: A revenue opportunity?
Advocates for mobile sports betting argue that it could generate significant revenue, particularly by recapturing money being spent in neighboring states where online betting is already legal. Other states have reported substantial tax revenues from mobile sports betting including:
— New York (51% tax rate): Generated $876 million in 2023, mostly funding public education.

— Pennsylvania (36% tax rate): Collected $176.6 million, directed to the state’s general fund.

— Tennessee (20% tax rate): Earned $84 million, largely benefiting education.

— Colorado (10% tax rate): Brought in $27–29 million, mostly for water infrastructure.
Mississippi currently taxes casino-based sports betting at 12%, generating $6 million for the state in 2023. If mobile betting is legalized, projections estimate an increase to $9–12 million annually.

Bruffey questioned whether the financial gains justify expanding gambling statewide.

“If you look at the numbers from last year, about $6 million of the $300 million was for retail (in-person) sportsbooks,” Bruffey said. “So, there are projections that say that could increase to $9, $10, $11, or $12 million. So, a $6 million increase, basically.”

Bradley added legalizing online sports betting would make wagering accessible across the state, increasing the potential for problem gambling.

Potential risks: Gambling addiction on the rise
Research suggests online gambling could contribute to higher rates of addiction, particularly among young men. A 2024 national survey by Fairleigh Dickinson University found that 10% of men ages 18–30 exhibited signs of problem gambling, compared to 3% of the general U.S. adult population. It also stated their findings show the trend is “closely related to online betting on sports and online slot machines.”

A separate NCAA-commissioned study of 3,527 young adults ages 18-22 found that 58% had placed a bet on a sportsbook at least once.

Experts warn that the accessibility of mobile betting could worsen gambling-related issues. Data from states with legalized mobile betting show an increase in problem gambling:
— Ohio: Calls to the state’s gambling addiction hotline related to sports betting rose 277% year-over-year after online betting was legalized.

— New Jersey: A growing share of gambling helpline calls now come from men under 30, a demographic particularly affected by mobile betting.
Some states, like Ohio and Illinois, have brought up increasing taxes on sportsbook operators, with rates as high as 40%. New Jersey introduced legislation to ban advertising including efforts to prohibit online sportsbook ads entirely or restrict them from appearing during live sporting events. States like Maine have enacted tougher marketing regulations, limited celebrity endorsements and banned certain promotions, such as “risk-free” bets with Connecticut looking to follow suit with recent legislation to ban advertising on public college campuses.

What’s next for Mississippi?
Despite HB 1302 failing before reaching the Senate floor, the House has introduced amendments to seemingly unrelated Senate legislation to keep mobile sports betting alive.

SB 2381 was originally passed to define who can lease out Public Trust Tidelands, which are state-owned coastal properties where some casinos and businesses operate. The bill clarified that the Secretary of State has the authority to approve leases for businesses on the tidelands (excluding city owned ports), giving leasing approval to the state rather than the local municipalities.

SB 2510 was originally passed to prohibit unlicensed online games of chance, including sports betting, casinos and sweepstakes. It also increased penalties for companies or people operating online games of chance. Those increased penalties were up to 10 years in prison, up to $100,000 in fines, forfeiture of assets or all three.

Both bills passed unanimously in the Senate.

The House amended both Senate bills to include identical provisions. The amendments would legalize mobile sports betting statewide similar to HB 1302; however, the amendments are not as defined as HB 1302.

With the changes, both are now also mobile sports betting bills. Both bills are exiting their respective committees and going to the House floor for a vote.