Online sports activities betting would grow to be authorized in Mississippi beneath a proposal that superior Tuesday night in a state House committee assembly. 

The House Gaming Committee handed House Bill 774, which might legalize cell sports activities betting however require prospects to make use of on-line companies from present Mississippi casinos to position a wager.

“The number one goal is to protect our brick-and-mortar buildings,” House Gaming Committee Chairman Casey Eure mentioned. “Every mobile sports wager will be tied to a brick-and-mortar building.”

Under the proposal, bettors wouldn’t must bodily go to a on line casino to register for sports activities betting. The complete registration course of may occur remotely, so long as it was completed in Mississippi.

In-person sports activities wagering and cell fantasy sports activities have been authorized within the state since 2018, however on-line betting has remained outlawed over worries the follow may erode the income of casinos.

The House proposal would require on-line sportsbooks like DraftKings or FanDuel, referred to as a “skin,” to companion with a bodily on line casino in Mississippi earlier than permitting prospects to take part in cell betting.

Democratic Rep. Robert Johnson III of Natchez, the House minority chief, voiced issues that smaller casinos within the state would get choked out of the market as a result of bigger casinos, usually owned by chains, may shortly companion with sports activities betting outfits.

“I wouldn’t think that any casino would have a problem partnering with someone,” responded Eure, a Republican from Harrison County.

Eure, the invoice’s writer, estimated that Mississippi would generate between $25 million to $35 million in income throughout the first yr if the state enacted a cell sports activities betting program. The income would come from a 12% tax on sports activities wagers with 4% going towards the native municipality the place the sponsor on line casino is situated and eight% going towards the state.

The complete 122-member House chamber can now contemplate the proposal, however it’s unclear when it should achieve this. House Speaker Jason White, a Republican from West, implied on Tuesday afternoon that the chamber would vote on the measure someday this week.

If the total House passes the proposal this week, it should transfer to the Senate for consideration. It must clear Senate committee and a full vote on the Senate ground to maneuver to the governor’s desk. If the Senate amends the unique invoice in any method, it must return to the House for approval.