Mississippi Lawmakers Revisit Mobile Sports Betting Ahead of Legislative Session

State Rep. Kevin Felsher of Biloxi outlined several policy priorities ahead of the upcoming Mississippi legislative session, including mobile sports betting. Speaking before the session’s start, Felsher described proposals he plans to advance and issues he expects lawmakers to debate in the weeks ahead.

Mississippi sports betting could be coming soon

Felsher said lawmakers may revisit mobile sports betting this session, noting increased momentum after similar efforts stalled in the Senate in prior years. He said any legislation would be structured to preserve the role of Mississippi’s physical casinos while expanding legal sports wagering to mobile platforms.

According to Felsher, the goal would be to strike a balance between modernization and protecting existing casino investments, ensuring that brick-and-mortar facilities remain central to the state’s gaming industry.

This would be similar to several other markets, including New Jersey, which allows mobile sports betting statewide but requires all online sportsbooks to be licensed through an existing casino or racetrack.

Momentum highlighted in recent study

As lawmakers debate how to structure sports betting policy, recent research highlights the scale of existing demand. A University of Mississippi study found that nearly 40% of college students reported gambling within the past year, with sports betting among the most common activities.

The findings suggest that many students are already participating in wagering, often through online platforms that operate outside state oversight.

Regulated sports betting would provide a safer alternative to offshore sportsbooks, which are not subject to U.S. consumer protection laws. Unlike unregulated sites, legal sportsbooks are required to implement age verification, responsible gambling tools, betting limits, and self-exclusion programs.

A state-regulated system would also allow officials to monitor trends, enforce safeguards, and direct resources toward education and treatment, addressing gambling activity that already exists rather than leaving it in an unregulated environment.

Previous enforcement highlights need for legal market

Mississippi has taken a firm approach to cracking down on unregulated online gambling platforms that operate outside state law.

State regulators have issued cease-and-desist orders to multiple offshore sportsbooks and sweepstakes sites, warning that these operators illegally target Mississippi residents without proper licensing or oversight.

Officials have raised concerns that unregulated platforms often give consumers the false impression they are legal while lacking basic protections such as age verification, responsible gambling tools, and safeguards for player funds.

This enforcement strengthens the case for regulation rather than prohibition. By legalizing and overseeing sports betting, Mississippi could bring existing demand into a controlled environment, expand regulatory authority, and reduce reliance on offshore platforms that fall beyond the state’s reach.

What’s next for Mississippi sports betting

Mississippi lawmakers are positioned to revisit the issue of sports betting in the upcoming legislative session, with renewed attention on expanding legal wagering beyond existing casino floors.

The next steps will include drafting and introducing legislation, committee hearings, and negotiations between legislators, industry stakeholders, and regulators on key details such as licensing, taxation, and consumer safeguards.

Lawmakers will also weigh public input and research on gambling behavior as they determine how to balance economic opportunity with protections for vulnerable bettors.

If approved, Mississippi could join a growing number of states that offer both in-person and mobile sports wagering through regulated platforms.