Advocates for online sports wagering in the Mississippi House are gearing up to push for legislation for a third consecutive year, despite ongoing resistance from the Senate in prior attempts. The latest proposal includes adjustments aimed at bolstering the financially strained Public Employees’ Retirement System.

Casey Eure, Chair of the Mississippi House Gaming Committee, is working on a new online sports betting bill, although Senate Gaming Committee Chair David Blount has consistently thwarted previous initiatives and continues to oppose them.

Eure has been a key legislative figure promoting mobile sports betting in Mississippi. His last attempt successfully passed the House in 2025 with an 88-10 vote, but it never reached the Senate for consideration.

Ongoing Political Challenges in Mississippi

Industry experts view Mississippi as one of the most challenging states still resisting online sports betting legislation. States lacking this gaming option frequently encounter various political obstacles, including opposition from both tribal entities and commercial casinos.

In Mississippi, continued resistance from Blount, the Senate Gaming Committee chair, has been a significant hurdle.

Blount has argued that the financial benefits of online sports betting do not warrant legalization. He has previously stated he would not introduce a bill unless requested by the Mississippi Gaming Commission. He has also raised concerns regarding the potential impact of online operations on physical casinos.

Mississippi was among the first states to authorize sports betting in 2018, but the legislation was limited to in-person betting at casinos.

Industry insiders claim that independent Mississippi casinos hold sway over lawmakers and are worried about larger out-of-state firms entering the online market.

New Bill Framework Connects Mobile Gambling to Casino Alliances

Eure is expected to draft the new legislation based on the framework that the House endorsed last year, which permits each Mississippi casino to collaborate with two online platforms.

In 2025, Eure also incorporated a provision linked to sports betting tax revenue intended to help mitigate fiscal losses for the casinos. This provision is anticipated to resurface in the current proposal, alongside a ban on using credit cards to fund betting accounts.

Eure revealed to Mississippi Today that he intends to allocate all revenues from online sports betting to support the government pension system. Rep. Kevin Felsher previously proposed a similar strategy.

The Public Employees’ Retirement System is currently funded at 55%, facing unfunded liabilities close to $26 billion.

Eure has mentioned that authorizing online betting would also combat illegal gambling while providing essential consumer protections.

“Legalizing mobile sports betting will help reduce the illegal market, which includes safeguarding underage gamblers, and offer genuine consumer protections in a regulated framework,” Eure noted. “This legislation would also create a new revenue stream for our brick-and-mortar casinos, ensuring their continued viability, while the state revenue generated would aid in closing the funding gap for our Public Employees’ Retirement System.”

Failed Workaround for Sweepstakes Legislation

The Senate did not consider Eure’s bill last year. As a workaround, the House adjusted a Senate bill aimed at banning sweepstakes casinos by adding language for online sports betting. That bill was ultimately defeated during committee discussions.

Eure’s forthcoming proposal is likely to reignite the debate between the House and Senate over whether Mississippi should advance from in-person sportsbooks to mobile betting.

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