Mississippi has emerged as a strong contender in the fight against sports betting laws, second only to New Jersey, who has been the most aggressive state for legalizing sports betting. Mississippi Revenue Commissioner Herb Frierson has been the spearhead in the state’s fight. Frierson pitched a series of reforms to state legislators, one of which involving sports betting, a billion-dollar industry.
There are several obstacles in the way of the state getting sports betting. Aside from the obvious laws in place—which will be discussed—there is also a cultural implication. Mississippi is a conservative state, so gambling and sports betting would be considered vices otherwise unappreciated from a moral standpoint. That being said, the state does have a variety of casinos that would certainly take advantage of any opportunity to have sports betting. There is also a large Christian presence, which Frierson himself even noted in an interview with a local newspaper.
“I know these things [sports betting] are very politically controversial with our conservative Christian friends, and I respect their positions, but I’m putting it all into consideration,” Frierson said.
Frierson, like other sports betting proponents, are looking at the issue from an economic standpoint. As part of his position, Frierson is looking to increase revenue for the state and he sees sports betting as a viable option. In regards to the other obstacles, PASPA is by far the biggest. Short for the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, PASPA bars 46 states from having legalized sports betting. As of now, Nevada is the only state allowed to have fully-fledged sports betting. Other obstacles include the major professional sports leagues and local voters, who would have to vote the bill into law should it even make it through legislative review.
The major professional sports leagues—NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL—have been outspoken against legalizing sports betting. Over the course of the 25 years since PASPA’s enacting, several of the league commissioners have altered their views on sports betting. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has emerged as the most supportive of sports betting, though MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has recently come out to speak on the league’s shifting perception of sports betting.
“Sports betting happens. Whether it’s legalized here or not, it’s happening out there. So I think the question for sports is really, ‘Are we better off in a world where we have a nice strong, uniform, federal regulation of gambling that protects the integrity of sports, provides sports with the tools to ensure that there is integrity in the competition…or are we better off closing our eyes to that and letting it go on as illegal gambling? And that’s a debatable point,” Manfred said.
Manfred’s statement aligns with Frierson’s mentality towards the subject. Mississippi is one of several states pushing for the freedom of choice when it comes to having sports betting. As mentioned earlier, New Jersey has been fighting for sports betting for years now, but other states including Michigan, West Virginia, Arizona and Louisiana, to name a few, have interest in sports betting.
The sports betting landscape is changing, especially with Daily Fantasy Sports leagues like DraftKings and Fan Duel—Mississippi is also one of the first states to regulate the daily fantasy sports industry—and Mississippi is ready to cement their place in the future. PASPA will have to be repealed or altered to include sports betting in certain states for Mississippi to have a chance, but there seems to be enough traction to get them there. This year could bode well for residents interested in Mississippi sports gambling should PASPA be repealed.