Task Force Set Up for Mississippi Gambling

Legalised online sports betting is one step closer in Mississippi – and could be possible by 2024.

That’s because the state’s government has given the go-ahead to set up a task force to look into the possibility.

Called HB606, the Bill that was passed by governor Timothy Reeves this week allows a commission to be set up in order to “undertake a comprehensive analysis of all matters related to legalizing online betting, online gaming and/or online wagering’”.

The task force could be up and running by as early as the beginning of August. Called the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance and Evaluation and Expenditure Review, it must issue a report on it is findings by December 15 this year. A new online sports betting bill could then be prepared for legislative scrutiny in early 2024.

The 13 members of the task force include the House Gaming Committee Chair, Rep Eure and the Senate Gaming Committee Chair, David Blount. Each will be allowed to appoint three other members.

Also on the task force will be the Executive Director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission, Jay McDaniel; the Chairman of the Mississippi Gaming and Hospitality Association, Larry Gregory and the Commissioner of the Department of Revenue, Chris Graham. If not representing themselves they can choose another to stand in for their organisations.

A House Bill to legislate for online sport betting has already been given consent by both the House and the Senate. This was via the Gaming and Appropriations committee in the former (and voted in on a109-5 vote). In the latter it appeared before the Gaming committee and passed the upper chamber by 49-1 votes.

The task force has the backing of many individuals and organisations within the sports industry in Mississippi, including local sports media personality Jackson Meadows. He maintains it would be safer, and fairer, to allow bets to take place anywhere in the state, and not simply in casinos.

Sports betting in casinos was given the go-ahead in Mississippi in August 2018. The southern state was one of the very first to introduce it following the lifting of the ban by the Supreme Court. But its neighbours have overtaken it when it comes to legalising online sports betting.

Tennessee and parts of Louisiana have already legalised the activity. In fact, Tennessee gave the go-ahead as far back as 2020, while online sports betting in Arkansas has been legal for just over a year now.