The American online betting industry is going from strength to strength as more states consider legislation that would allow more betting markets to operate in their respective jurisdictions. States that ignore consumer demand are missing out on significant revenue streams that many states are directing back into the community. While these decisions won’t be made overnight, carrying out the groundwork to build a strong foundation for legislative change is an important part of any campaign, but people in Mississippi won’t see changes this year following the failure of House Bill 774 at the Mississippi Senate.

State autonomy to decide their own betting regulations has led to a fractured American gambling industry, with legislation changing as consumers cross borders.

The decision by the Supreme Court to lift the ban on sports betting in 2018 has led to a rush for many states to pass legislation to allow land-based and online betting operators the chance to run licensed sports books.

The vast revenue streams these operations create can improve employment and community projects in certain areas, but failure to offer a licensed betting market sees consumers looking elsewhere.

Every year, millions of dollars leave the U.S. to offshore betting operators that are licensed in external jurisdictions. These betting sites offer citizens in prohibitive states a selection of betting markets, high-quality gaming experiences, and secure payment methods.

Many people choose to bet with casinos with credit card deposit options, with betting expert Johanna Gullberg putting this down to the convenience and security they provide.

But Mississippians are still hopeful that an online sports betting bill could be passed in the future, which could pave the way for other betting markets.

Hopes were high for HB 774 in February after passing through the House with a resounding 97 to 14 vote in its favor. 

At the time, it was estimated that tax revenues from the sports betting industry in Mississippi would be as high as $25 million, with plans to put this towards improving the state’s road infrastructure.

The bill would have seen land-based gambling businesses partner with online operators to create platforms for consumers to bet using mobile devices.

While the bill failed at the final hurdle, there are still hopes that it could be amended in 2025 and succeed. One of the main issues appears to have been the wide scope of the bill, aiming to legalize online sports and casino betting. By focusing solely on pushing through online sports betting legislation, any future attempt will be significantly more likely to succeed.

Mississippi already has a successful casino industry that would provide the retail support that online operators would require. The state’s online lottery service also serves as an example of how beneficial it could be.

May saw the Mississippi Lottery Corporation agree on a contract extension with IGT (International Game Technology) to provide its online gaming and ticketing services until the end of 2029. The new deal will see the implementation of a mobile app, improving convenience and taking the lottery into the 21st century.

Adopting a digital platform for an existing betting market in Mississippi is a step in the right direction, and evidence that the online gambling market in the U.S. is set to continue growing should also help. Valued at $2.5 billion in 2022, the American online gambling market is projected to grow to around $9 billion over the next 8 years.

In the meantime, Mississippi is missing out on an estimated $25 million per year that could help to improve the state’s roads. Consumers will continue to explore offshore and crypto gambling alternatives, which will see millions of dollars lost every year.