HB 774, sponsored by Rep. Casey Eure (R-116), was written to allow all 26 Mississippi casinos to partner with one online operator with no limit on how many casino partners an operator could sign. That means that anywhere from 1-26 sportsbook companies could have entered the state market if they achieved licensing.
The bills passed a House vote 97-14 on Feb. 1. But underwent major changes in the Senate, where it was stripped of all sports betting verbiage.
Senators then voted 36-15 in favor of a reconsideration motion, which set the bill up to go to a conference committee. These committees are formed with both Senators and Representatives when one chamber does not agree with the other’s proposed changes to a bill.
Conferees met informally last week and reportedly shared more ideas on the proposals than first expected. However, their failure to file a resolution means that bills will need to be reintroduced in the respective chambers before the end of the legislative session on May 5, just a few days away.
“We had more serious discussions than we've had in the past this year," Blount said. "There are still disagreements among the different casino operators about the bill's effect on bricks and mortar casinos and jobs. We believe it needs further study.”
The House estimated that its version of the bill would create up to $25 million in annual tax funding. Plans were written to allocate those funds to repairing bridges, highways, and other pieces of the state’s infrastructure.
Mississippi was the only state with a nominal GDP per capita below $50,000 in 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Its $49,911 was nearly 12 percent lower than the second-lowest state (West Virginia - $49,911) and just 45.1 percent of the highest state (New York - $110,781).
