Mississippi Senate approves bill to ban online sweepstakes
Senate Bill 2150 progresses to the state’s House of Representatives, though a motion to reconsider Senator Joey Fillingane’s proposal has been filed
A bill to ban online sweepstakes casinos has been given the green light by the Mississippi senate, with an overwhelming majority vote of 44-1.
An amended version of Senate Bill 2150, first introduced by Senator Joey Fillingane, secured approval and will now be scrutinized by the Mississippi House of Representatives.
Fillingane’s proposal aims to amend the Mississippi Code of 1972 and target several forms of online gambling deemed illegal and subject to significant criminal penalties.
The bill defines any online, interactive, or computerized version of gambling activities, including those that simulate gambling and offer players the chance to win cash prizes, as illegal.
The majority of Fillingane’s original proposal has remained in the substituted version of SB 2150, with the bill outlining that each violation of its conditions would be deemed a felony, punishable by a $100,000 fine, a prison sentence of up to 10 years, and a forfeiture of assets.
As per the approved bill, all of the aforementioned punishments will apply to both operators and those who promote sites offering such services, including sweepstakes.
The language used notes that platforms offering online casino games, or digital simulations, are: “hereby declared to be a gambling device, and the offering for play or operating an online or interactive platform that offers for play such games within the state of Mississippi shall be deemed unlawful under the provisions of this section.”
The bill permits prosecution for violations in either the county where the offence took place or in Hinds County, which includes the state capital, Jackson.
Though a motion to reconsider has since been filed, if the House of Representatives approves SB 2150, the act will come into effect as of July 1, 2025.
Prominent igaming lawyer Daniel Wallach wrote on LinkedIn: “Barring any reversal, it appears that the Mississippi senate has become the first legislative body in the US to ban sweepstakes casinos.”
Earlier this month, Mississippi made some progress with efforts to legalize online sports betting, after House Bill 1302 received resounding approval by 89 votes to 11.
The proposal, introduced by Republican Senators Casey Eure and Jeffrey Hulum III, would permit existing casino licensees to offer online sports betting, with each platform having the right to provide both an online sportsbook and racebook. Retail sports betting has been available in the state since 2018.
Like retail, online operators would be taxed at 12% of gross gaming revenue (GGR), while the use of credit cards would be banned.