Just days after being filed, Rep. Casey Eure’s effort to expand sports betting online in Mississippi has passed through the House and is moving on the the Senate.
HB774, which would allow each casino in the state to offer online sports betting. After filing with a proposed tax rate that mimicked land-based casino tax rates, Eure introduced a new version of the measure that would tax all sports betting at 12%.
Proceeds from the online expansion would total $25-$35 million a year and those funds would go to improve highways and roads around the state.
When presenting the legislation on the House floor, Eure pointed out that lawmakers in Georgia had advanced a sports betting bill through the Senate earlier in the day and that the Alabama legislature would be considering a full gaming package next week.
Lawmakers responded by resoundingly supporting the bill, passing it by a 97-14 margin. From here, it moves to the Senate.
The casino industry in the state is torn over whether or not online betting would be a good thing for the state, so there could be more resistance on the other side of the statehouse. Moreover, because this is a revenue-generating bill, it needs two-thirds support of the Senate in order to pass. While it cleared that mark easily in the House, the Senate could be a tougher fight.
If the bill does get through the Senate, online sports betting would be set to go live in July.
Eure’s effort should not be confused with HB271, a different online sports betting proposal filed by Rep. Cedric Burnett.
