Will online sports betting come to the state of Mississippi in 2026?
The US state of Mississippi has been trying to legalize online sports betting for several years, but with all attempts having failed thus far, could two new bills proposed by lawmakers change things in 2026?
Commercial gambling has been a part of Mississippi’s identity since the 1990s. This should be a point in support of online sports betting, but the state has been unable to advance any bill past the State Senate. Now, two new bills have been proposed, with debate already emerging over whether they might meet the same fate to continue to push the state’s players towards using unregulated, offshore alternatives.
Mississippi bills would allow casinos to partner with mobile sports betting operators
Two separate pending bills, HB 519 and HB 297, have been introduced in the US state of Mississippi, and both aim to allow for statewide mobile sports betting. The proposed bills aim to have online sportsbooks align themselves with in-person casinos, rather than open up separate commercial licenses.
This is likely meant to ensure a smoother transition for brick-and-mortar casinos as more convenient mobile alternatives are introduced. If the bills pass, they would restrict players from using credit cards to wager, would require that participating operators ensure age verification and other safety measures are set in place, and would impose a 12% tax that would be charged on any betting revenues generated.
Player betting using a mobile sportsbook.
Some critics of legalizing online betting sites in Mississippi have often cited that the state’s physical casinos would lose revenue if online alternatives were allowed. The two current proposed bills keep this in mind and explicitly prohibit new licenses from being issued, meaning that existing operators would continue to benefit from any online options introduced.
Despite this, some analysts believe key lawmakers in the opposition field have other reservations. These include fears that the risks of legalized online sports betting could outweigh the obvious benefits in tax revenue and player safety improvements, and that enforcement could be difficult.
Supporters then argue that players are using unsafe offshore alternatives already, which poses greater risks than state-regulated platforms, and prevents the state from collecting on potential tax dollars that could be put towards a variety of ventures.
Mississippi residents have reportedly placed billions of dollars in bets using offshore sports betting platforms. According to some statistics, more than 8 million of the state’s residents have attempted to access legal mobile sportsbooks to place bets on NFL games. Mississippi lawmakers estimate the state is losing between $40 million and $80 million in potential annual betting tax revenue because of the wagering taking place on these unregulated platforms.
This aligns with other US states, such as Massachusetts, where mobile sports betting accounts for a larger share of wagers compared to in-person sportsbooks. Supporters argue that lawmakers should legalize online sports betting in 2026 so that players in the state of Mississippi have safe platforms made available to them and the ensuing tax revenues that are generated can be used for the greater public interest and good.
Feature image credit: Canva
Khizar Mundia has been playing video games for as long as he can recall. Things have come a long way since the many days he spent playing the original NES, though. He now covers a variety of competitive games and esports, as well as the world of streaming, ranging from Twitch to Kick. If it’s of interest to gamers, it’s of interest to Khizar.
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