• About Us / Contact
  • Responsible Gambling
This site contains commercial content
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Vermont
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM
    • Caesars
    • PointsBet
    • BetRivers
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Vermont
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM
    • Caesars
    • PointsBet
    • BetRivers
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
No Result
View All Result

Mississippi Locked and Loaded for Sports Betting, Pending Supreme Court Decision

Brett Smiley by Brett Smiley
December 20, 2017
in Regulation
Mississippi Is Preparing to Get Out Ahead on Sports Betting In Its Six Casinos As It Awaits Decision in Supreme Court Sports Betting Case
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Having already opened the door for Mississippi legal sports betting, the state gaming commission “Will be ready to address sports gambling” in the event of a favorable ruling for New Jersey in Christie v NCAA,  said Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC) executive director Allen Godfrey on Tuesday.

Also known as the Supreme Court sports betting case, the high court heard oral argument Christie v NCAA on December 4. A decision is expected in the spring in the case deciding the constitutionality of PASPA (the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act), which in 1992 effectively banned sports wagering outside Nevada. In advance of that, numerous states are now preparing for the possibility that the Supreme Court strikes the law on states’ rights grounds.

Godfrey told Mississippi Today that the state’s preparedness to roll out licensed sportsbooks only hinges on “how long it takes the operators to get ready to offer it as a regulated game.”

Mississippi Is Preparing to Get Out Ahead on Sports Betting In Its Six Casinos As It Awaits Decision in Supreme Court Sports Betting Case

In March, Mississippi’s legislature passed House Bill 967, an act that legalized fantasy sports but also modified parts of the Gaming Control Act (GCA) that in effect would legalize sports betting in Mississippi.

Although some lawmakers appear a bit coy about their intentions with the alterations (more on that), HB967 did a couple things to the GCA that Godfrey and other officials have interpreted as a right away for legal sports betting.

First, HB967 amended one section (75-76-33 of Mississippi Code of 1972), completely striking a plain sports betting prohibition:

(a) No wagering shall be allowed on the outcome of any athletic event, nor on any matter to be determined during an athletic event, nor on the outcome of any event which does not take place on the premises.

Second, HB967 changed another portion of the GCA (75-76-5), redefining “sports pool.” Compare the original (on top) with the amended version:

Sign Up For The Sports Handle Newsletter!
I also want to receive information and offers about online sportsbooks (eg. odds boost, welcome offers)

(gg) “Sports pool” means the business of accepting wagers on sporting events, except for athletic events, by any system or method of wagering other than the system known as the “pari-mutuel method of wagering.”

(gg)  “Sports pool” means the business of accepting wagers on collegiate or professionals porting events * * * or athletic events, by any system or method of wagering other than the system known as the “pari-mutuel method of wagering.”

“We did not see (House Bill 967) in the same light as sports betting,” said state senator Sean Tindell (since appointed to the Mississippi Court of Appeals), main author on the Senate’s identical version of the House Bill. Tindell added, “We knew there was a federal law that prohibited sports betting but allowed fantasy sports gaming. We weren’t concerned with sports betting then because we knew federal law would trump anything we could pass.”

Mississippi currently has 21 licensed casinos, with several concentrated in the cities of Biloxi and Tunica. And that is where sports betting could/would occur, if officials interpret HB967 as Godfrey does. Further regulations would come from the MGC but for now the light is looking more green than orange.

Also check out from SportsHandle:

West Virginia Legislator on Sports Betting: A Little Less Conversation, A Little More Action

The Rise And Excitement of In-Play Sports Betting, Explained By Expert

What International Soccer Can Teach U.S. Sports Leagues About Sports Betting Partnerships

Share4TweetShare
Brett Smiley

Brett Smiley

Brett Smiley is editor-in-chief and co-founder of Sports Handle, which joined forces with the US Bets team in November 2018. He focuses on the sports betting industry and legislation. He's a recreational sports bettor and DFS player himself, focusing on the NFL. In a past life, Smiley practiced commercial litigation in New York City and previously wrote for FOX Sports and SI.com. He lives in New Jersey with his family.

Related Posts

get a grip graphic
Industry

Get A Grip — The Week In Sports Betting: Five Years And Counting

May 12, 2023
paspa ruling
Features

From PASPA To Present: An Oral History Of The U.S. Sports Betting Gold Rush

May 11, 2023
Load More

Top Stories

paspa ruling

From PASPA To Present: An Oral History Of The U.S. Sports Betting Gold Rush

May 11, 2023
inside-fanatics-sportsbook-fedex-field

Sources: Fanatics Enters Advanced Talks With PointsBet On Transformative U.S. Deal

May 12, 2023
new york times headquarters

The ‘Risky Wager’ Series From New York Times Was No Hit Piece — It’s Reality

May 31, 2023
cincinnati-bearcats-signage

Failing To Report Wagering Violations A No-No, NCAA Says

May 25, 2023

State Sports Betting Guides

Ohio (U.S. state) flag waving against clear blue sky, close up, isolated with clipping path mask alpha channel transparency, perfect for film, news, composition

Ohio Sports Betting – All Online Sportsbooks, Bonus Offers, and News 2023

by Brian Pempus
May 16, 2023

Downtown Detroit at twilight (Shutterstock)

Michigan Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks, And FAQ

by Brett Smiley
May 2, 2023

VA captial

Virginia Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks And Bonus Offers

by Brett Smiley
April 24, 2023

nj flag

New Jersey Sports Betting — Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks, And FAQ

by Brett Smiley
March 22, 2023

pa online sportsbooks

Pennsylvania Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks And Bonuses

by Brett Smiley
May 3, 2023

Canada Sports Betting Guides

Canada Sports Betting – Best Sportsbook Apps & Bonus Offers

British Columbia Sports Betting – Legal Update, Available Sportsbooks, and FAQ

Ontario Sports Betting – Legal Status And Where To Play

SportsHandle

  • Analysis
  • Casino
  • Features
  • Horse Racing
  • Industry
  • Legal
  • Legislation
  • Lottery
  • Opinion
  • Podcasts
  • Poker
  • Politics
  • Promotions
  • Regulation
  • Sports
  • Uncategorized

Better Collective

This website is owned and operated by Better Collective USA. Trademarks and copyrights referenced on this website are and shall remain the exclusive property of their respective owners and/or licensors. Please be sure to visit the operator’s website(s) to review their terms & conditions. We advise you to read these carefully as they contain important information. Copyright © 2023 USBets.com | Better Collective USA
21 Play Responsibly
Gamble Aware West Virginia
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
GameSense

Search Sports Handle

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us / Contact
  • Responsible Gambling

No Result
View All Result
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Vermont
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM
    • Caesars
    • PointsBet
    • BetRivers
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News