Mississippi
Mobile sports betting in MS still has many hurdles. See what passed the House
House Gaming chairman throws cold water on Jackson Casino bills filed this year
Mississippi House passes bill to cut income and sales tax
Rep. Trey Lamar, R-Senatobia, House Ways and Means chairman, presents the Build Up Mississippi Act to cut income and sales taxes.
Mississippians are one step closer to having statewide online mobile sports betting, but hurdles in the Mississippi Legislature still need to be cleared before the idea is totally greenlit.
The Mississippi House of Representatives on Monday passed legislation to establish statewide online mobile sports betting with overwhelming support from chamber members.
The bill was met with some resistance from House Minority Leader Robert Johnson, D-Natchez, who also opposed the legislation in 2024. However, the bill passed with 88 votes in favor and only 10 votes in opposition.
House Gaming Committee Chair Casey Eure, R-Saucier, said the bill will likely head to conference, meaning it will not likely be accepted as is by the Mississippi Senate and will be debated and negotiated for before passing.
The Senate Gaming Committee, which will consider the bill next, is chaired by Sen. David Blount, D-Jackson, who also opposed the House’s mobile sports betting bill in 2024. Blount did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Eure also said the bill would add millions in yearly revenue to the state via a 12% tax on all mobile sports bets. The money would go to all 82 counties to fund roads and bridges projects.
Johnson, who represents an area with a casino, questioned why tax revenue generated from the legislation would go to all 82 counties when only a few in the state have casinos, such as those along the Mississippi River and Gulf Coast.
“That’s the region that this gambling resource is coming out of,” Johnson said. “This (should not) protect all 82 counties. This (should) protect counties who have suffered through the risk of establishing a casino and have had them there for years. Not the counties that said ‘no’, but to the county that said, ‘Yes.’”
Last year, Eure estimated a mobile sports betting program could be bring in about $25 million in tax revenue.
As for prospective players, the bill would:
- Allow any person within the state to place an online mobile sports bet. Currently, you would need to be on casino grounds to bet online.
- Allow casinos to partner with two online betting platforms to begin online sports betting business.
- Players would not be allowed to use credit cards, but they could use debit cards and online payment options such as Cashapp or Venmo.
- Platforms would be required to age verify players. In Mississippi, players must be 21 years old.
Other states throughout the Southeast have been earning oodles of money in tax revenue from mobile sports betting. For example, Eure said, Tennessee, Louisiana, Kentucky and North Carolina have made tens of millions in sports betting tax revenues since implementing their own programs.
“That just goes to show you that we’re losing a lot of tax revenue to these online sports betting,” Eure said.
Eure said on the House floor the bill added several provisions in addition to what it had last year in order to please some members in the Senate and the gaming community at large.
Last year, the bill died in conference due to concerns that the online betting programs would drive foot traffic away from brick-and-mortar casinos and possibly cost jobs.
Cold water thrown on Jackson casino project bills
Before the vote on mobile sports betting, Rep. William Brown, D-Jackson, asked if Eure had any intentions of supporting legislation to establish a Jackson casino project, which died in the House Ways and Means Committee last year.
Several bills to establish a Jackson casino have been filed into the Legislature this year but as of Monday afternoon none have passed through a committee. Lawmakers have until Tuesday evening to pass such a bill onto either the House or Senate floor.
Eure acknowledged the bill from 2024, but on Monday he said he had heard no such support for a project, and essentially dismissed the idea.
“I’ve had no one contact me, and I’ve had no conversations about a Jackson Casino,” Eure said.
Grant McLaughlin covers the Legislature and state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.
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Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favor
Odds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.
The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at April 28, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from April 28 drawing
01-03-09-22-31
Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from April 28 drawing
Midday: 6-2-9, FB: 8
Evening: 1-1-2, FB: 1
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from April 28 drawing
Midday: 5-0-9-8, FB: 8
Evening: 1-8-8-1, FB: 1
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from April 28 drawing
Midday: 08
Evening: 15
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Story continues below gallery.
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
Winnings of $599 or less can be claimed at any authorized Mississippi Lottery retailer.
Prizes between $600 and $99,999, may be claimed at the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters or by mail. Mississippi Lottery Winner Claim form, proper identification (ID) and the original ticket must be provided for all claims of $600 or more. If mailing, send required documentation to:
Mississippi Lottery Corporation
P.O. Box 321462
Flowood, MS
39232
If your prize is $100,000 or more, the claim must be made in person at the Mississippi Lottery headquarters. Please bring identification, such as a government-issued photo ID and a Social Security card to verify your identity. Winners of large prizes may also have the option of setting up electronic funds transfer (EFT) for direct deposits into a bank account.
Mississippi Lottery Headquarters
1080 River Oaks Drive, Bldg. B-100
Flowood, MS
39232
Mississippi Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date. For detailed instructions and necessary forms, please visit the Mississippi Lottery claim page.
When are the Mississippi Lottery drawings held?
- Cash 3: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Cash 4: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Match 5: Daily at 9:30 p.m. CT.
- Cash Pop: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Mississippi editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Medical marijuana is having a moment in clinical trials
Cannabis has medical promise, but doctors still can’t prescribe it. A Harvard psychiatrist explains why science and policy lag behind.
Federal drug policy is undergoing a major shift. It could affect Mississippi medical marijuana.
President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order changing the classification for medical marijuana at the federal level. It affected products that states license for medical use and Food and Drug Administration-approved marijuana products.
On April 23, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order shifting them from the highest level of regulation, Schedule I, to the less restrictive Schedule III.
“This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information,” Blanche said in a statement.
Did Trump legalize marijuana?
No. Weed has not been legalized across the country.
The newest changes only downgrade the penalties if someone has medical marijuana in a way that violates federal law.
Trump also signed an executive order in December easing some federal penalties for recreational use. It did not legalize the drug nationally or override state marijuana laws.
The DOJ will have an expedited hearing on June 29 regarding more broadly reclassifying marijuana. The reclassification push started under former President Joe Biden, and Trump signed an executive action in December.
Weed is still classified as a Schedule I drug under federal law, but it would move to Schedule III if the proposed reclassification is finalized.
Do people want marijuana legalized?
About half of all U.S. states have decided to fully legalize weed for adult, non-medical use.
A 2025 Gallup poll survey showed that 64% of Americans wanted weed to be legal.
After Trump signed his December executive order to reclassify marijuana, more than 20 Republican senators, including Mississippi’s Cindy Hyde-Smith, sent Trump a letter saying the drug is “harmful to its users.” They urged him to change his mind.
What does the federal medical marijuana change mean in Mississippi?
Generally, the new shift will make it easier for the medical marijuana industry to operate. Business operators can file business deductions on their federal taxes.
It should also make it easier to do related research.
Is medical marijuana legal in Mississippi?
Yes. Medical marijuana is legal to buy and use through the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program.
To buy medical marijuana, you must have a medical cannabis card issued by Mississippi. State‑registered doctors can prescribe weed for more than 20 qualifying conditions, including cancer, glaucoma and Parkinson’s disease. Check the list maintained by the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program to see if you qualify.
There are fees for patients and caregivers, as well as additional costs for doctor visits. Health insurance does not cover medical marijuana.
It’s sold at approved dispensaries.
Cardholders may buy no more than 24 Mississippi Medical Cannabis Equivalency Units (MMCEUs) in a 30‑day period and can possess up to 28 MMCEUs at one time.
Can you buy medical marijuana in Mississippi if you live out of state?
Yes. Non-residents can get medical marijuana here with limits.
People who don’t live in Mississippi can apply for temporary medical marijuana cards up to twice a year. Each temporary card is valid for 15 days and requires proof of medical marijuana eligibility in the person’s home state.
Non‑residents may buy up to 6 MMCEUs per week or 12 per 15‑day period.
Is recreational marijuana legal in Mississippi?
No. Mississippi does not allow recreational marijuana.
But the state has eased penalties for small amounts. Possession can still lead to fines, jail time or felony charges. It all depends on the situation.
Contributing: Zac Anderson
Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with USA TODAY Network. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.
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