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A bill that would increase casino taxes from 12% to 16% has been passed by the Mississippi House Ways and Means Committee. Supporters claim that the hike would help make up for the state’s losses from unregulated online gambling, according to Mississippi Today.
Committee Chairman Trey Lamar highlighted the widespread but untaxed presence of online sports betting. He stated, “If everybody’s honest with themselves, online sports betting is already going on.” Despite its popularity, these activities remain outside state regulation, meaning Mississippi does not benefit from any related tax revenue.
Lamar believes this tax hike is a necessary step to recover lost funds. He explained, “The goal post continues to be moved on the other end of the building (the Senate). We’re going to tax it appropriately.”
Illegal online gambling remains a major concern for Mississippi lawmakers. Lamar warned that the issue has grown significantly, describing it as having reached “pandemic level.” He also suggested that opposition from certain casinos is delaying efforts to regulate and tax online betting.
“It’s my understanding that a small handful of casinos are standing in the way of that legislation,” he noted, pointing to industry resistance as a key challenge.
One of the few states that still only allows in-casino internet sports betting is Mississippi. Legalizing and taxing online gambling, according to some lawmakers, would be a better long-term solution than raising casino taxes.
As the bill advances, legislators and business executives continue to debate the possible advantages and disadvantages of the proposed tax increase.