• About Us / Contact
  • Responsible Gambling
This site contains commercial content
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • 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
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • 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

If Sports Betting Made Legal, Mississippi Plans to Accept Bets by NFL Season

Jill R. Dorson by Jill R. Dorson
April 30, 2018
in Regulation
Mississippi Sports Betting legal sportsbook golden nugget

The Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in Biloxi, MS

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Should the United States Supreme Court allow the legalization of sports betting nationwide, the state of Mississippi will have its doors open – possibly as soon as the start of the 2018 football season. At least that’s the plan for Mississippi sports betting, according the head of the state gaming commission, Allen Godfrey.

In a recent story in the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, Godfrey promised sports betting “within 45 to 60 days [of a decision], before football season.” And if you’re wondering how Mississippi can pull that off without passing any legislation during the 2018 session, the answer is simple: sports betting is already legal in Mississippi.

Though the state has done just about nothing with regard to sports betting during the current legislative session, they made it legal, albeit under the radar, in early 2017. The Mississippi legislature passed HB 967 in March of last year. Though the bill focused on fantasy sports, it modified the Gaming Control Act. The end result is that the bill legalizes sports gambling in Mississippi.

Mississippi Will Have a Leg Up When it Comes to Sports Betting. Legislation in Louisiana all But Dead, and Other Border States Aren’t Interested.

Because of that, Mississippi is waiting – and chomping at the bit to get sports betting into its more than 30 commercial and tribal casinos, many of which dot the Gulf of Mexico and are easy driving distance from the biggest city in the region – New Orleans.

“It will be just another type of game offered in a legal casino operation,” Godfrey told the Clarion-Ledger.

New Jersey’s case against the NCAA and major pro sports leagues, Murphy v NCAA, may result in the 1992 federal ban on sports wagering outside Nevada — known as the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act — getting lifted. So far this year, only West Virginia has made sports betting legal. Pennsylvania passed a law in favor of sports betting in 2017. Delaware and Oregon, two states whose then-existing sports wagering offerings were “grandfathered’ in under PASPA, are in a similar place as Mississippi, to the extent they may not need additional legislation to offer licenses for full-fledged sports betting.

If Mississippi indeed does open the sports betting doors sooner than later, it will have a big leg up in the Southeast. The only nearby state even discussing sports betting is Louisiana, and the latest bill there didn’t get out of the Finance Committee. There has been little to no sports betting conversation in Mississippi’s other border states – Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee.

“Florida’s not talking about it. Tennessee’s not talking about it. Nor is Arkansas or Georgia,” Godfrey said. “Louisiana has about 35 days left in its legislative session, and that topic is not getting much traction. No one within our drive-in market is having that conversation.”

Share36TweetShare
Jill R. Dorson

Jill R. Dorson

Jill has covered everything from steeplechase to the NFL and then some during a more than 30-year career in sports journalism. The highlight of her career was covering Oakland Raiders during the Charles Woodson/Jon Gruden era, including the infamous “Snow Bowl” and the Raiders’ 2003 trip to Super Bowl XXXVII. Her specialty these days is covering sports betting legislation across the country. You can reach Jill at jill@bettercollective.com

Related Posts

Industry

DraftKings Offering $10K In Abortion Assistance While Others Consider Next Steps

June 30, 2022
welcome-mississippi-sign
Legislation

Mississippi Mobile? Handful Of Betting Bills Proposed In Early 2022

January 31, 2022
Load More

Top Stories

fanduel-retail-sportsbook-front

Requiem For The So-Called ‘Risk-Free Bet’

February 2, 2023
garnett mgm springfield

Sports Betting Launches In Massachusetts, Giving Three Retail Books A Head Start

January 31, 2023
springfield thunderbirds betmgm opening

What’s Next For BetMGM As Entain Nears End Of Commitment To U.S. Joint Venture?

February 3, 2023
anthony-grant-coaching

Regulators, Colleges Grapple With Impact Of Angry Online Gamblers

February 6, 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 – Where To Play, Bonus Offers And Promo Codes

by Brian Pempus
February 2, 2023

Downtown Detroit at twilight (Shutterstock)

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

by Brett Smiley
February 6, 2023

VA captial

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

by Brett Smiley
January 17, 2023

nj flag

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

by Brett Smiley
October 20, 2022

pa online sportsbooks

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

by Brett Smiley
October 6, 2022

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

gambling therapy
ncpg
igaming ontario
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL). Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (MI/NJ/OH/PA/WV), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-888-532-3500 (VA) or call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN).
19+. Please play responsibly. Terms and conditions apply. 
Individuals must be 19 years of age or older to participate in igaming in Ontario. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. If you, or someone you know, has a gambling problem in Ontario and wants help, please visit ConnexOntario or call their helpline at 1-866-531-2600. Operators on this website operate pursuant to an Operating Agreement with iGaming Ontario.

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
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • 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

loading

Please wait while you are redirected to the right page...

Please share your location to continue.

Check our help guide for more info.

share your location