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.
Six new members were inducted into the Mississippi Association Coaches Hall of Fame on Friday.
Five electees and one surprise honorary inductee announced at the evening’s end.
Each says the MAC HOF is a special one and this is the ultimate honor for a coach in Mississippi.
Members of a Fort Worth-area youth baseball team were among dozens of people rescued from rising floodwaters in Mississippi as Tropical Storm Arthur brought heavy rain and dangerous conditions to the Gulf Coast.
According to a release from Cajun Navy 2016, volunteers conducted multiple water rescues along the Biloxi River in Gulfport over the weekend as rainfall caused water levels to rise and flooded homes and roadways.
Among those evacuated were members of The Pickles, a Fort Worth-area youth baseball team.
Trey Williams, communications director for Cajun Navy 2016, said the rescue effort began when the mother of one of the players contacted the organization through Facebook seeking help. Initially, the situation did not appear urgent, but rising floodwaters overnight quickly changed conditions.
“They were just wanting to get to their game,” Williams said. “But overnight, the water rose a great bit, and it really did become more of an emergency situation where we needed to get them out of that house.”
According to Williams, volunteers working alongside the Gulfport Fire Department evacuated 12 players, nine adults, and three dogs; two German shepherds and a Labrador, from the flooded property.
The group was staying in an Airbnb near the Biloxi River when floodwaters began surrounding the elevated home. Williams said fast-moving water and changing currents created dangerous conditions for rescuers and those trapped inside.
“The most important thing was that water was very swift and fast-moving,” Williams said. “In that situation, it’s always best to get people out of harm’s way.”
The team rescue was one of several operations conducted by Cajun Navy 2016 during the storm response.
Williams said the rescue reflected the mission that inspired the organization after the historic Louisiana floods of 2016.
“It was neighbors coming together to help neighbors,” Williams said. “Every time we help somebody, they’re very grateful and relieved. In this situation, everybody was safe, everybody got out okay, and that’s why we’re here.”
A conversation on the history of Black cuisine in America
Black chefs and authors, Chef Marcus Samuelsson, Chef Thérèse Nelson, Chef David Rose, and Chef Ameer Natson discuss the origins of soul food and how Black chefs have contributed to American food.
Miguel Fernandez, NorthJersey.com
When you think of Mississippi food, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? The state has lots of iconic offerings, including biscuits, tamales and mud pie.
Talker Research surveyed 5,000 Americans for Hello Fresh. They talked to families about how much they cook at home, pride in local recipes and the states they think have the best cuisine in the U.S.
“Food has always been about more than just sustenance — it’s how we connect, share stories and pass down traditions,” said Michelle Doll Olson, senior manager of culinary development at HelloFresh US. “From California shrimp tacos and Minnesota Juicy Lucy, to Louisiana gumbo and New York bagels, the dishes that define each state carry generations of family memories and cultural pride.”
The average American reportedly cooks 12 meals at home every week. That’s three breakfasts, four lunches and five dinners.
Sharing food is a matter of community pride.
Get your groceries easily with Hello Fresh
What does Mississippi taste like?
New Hampshire was proud of its apple cider donuts while Utah bragged about “fry sauce.” Ohio loves its “buckeyes.”
People said the most iconic Mississippi foods are fried catfish and soul food.
Which states have the best food?
The Top 5 foodie states, according to the survey, were:
- California
- New York
- Texas
- Louisiana
- Florida
Residents of neighboring Louisiana were the most confident (94%) that they had the best cuisine.
What dishes and flavors represent other Southern states?
According to the data, here’s what other Southern states say represents them.
- Alabama: banana pudding, pinto beans and cornbread
- Arkansas: catfish, country fried chicken
- Florida: seafood, key lime pie, fresh orange juice
- Georgia: peach cobbler, seafood boils
- Kentucky: fried chicken
- Louisiana: crawfish, Cajun cuisine, gumbo
- North Carolina: barbecue, knoephla soup
- South Carolina: soul food
- Tennessee: barbecue
- Texas: Tex Mex, barbecue
- Virginia: ham
Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with USA TODAY Network. Email her at bbolden@usatodayco.com.
-
Georgia8 minutes agoZuckerman eyes MLB Draft after superb baseball season at Georgia Tech
-
Hawaii15 minutes agoToll booth, cultural center proposed for Maunakea Access Road – West Hawaii Today
-
Idaho18 minutes agoIdaho Patriot Thunder Ride is Sunday. 100% of donations help military non-profits
-
Illinois30 minutes agoVideo shows deadly tornado that hit southern Illinois, killing 2
-
Indiana33 minutes ago
Where to watch Phoenix Mercury vs Indiana Fever on June 22: TV channel, start time and streaming
-
Kentucky38 minutes agoAll of the 4th of July events, fireworks taking place in Louisville this year
-
Iowa38 minutes ago
Iowa home sales up 17.3% in May – KBOE 104.9FM Hot Country
-
Louisiana53 minutes agoDriver dies from gunshot wound after Louisiana State Police chase in New Orleans
