Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Opposes Online Sports Betting
David Genge Published 17/07/2026
Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann opposes the legalization of online and mobile sports betting in the state. While retail sports betting is legal at physical casinos in Mississippi, Hosemann, who leads the Senate, fears the potential economic harm mobile sports betting could cause to brick-and-mortar casinos. He's also worried about the increased risks of gambling addiction among young adults.
These are the reasons he chooses to block the online expansion of sports betting in the state. Hosemann recently outlined his concerns about the legalization of mobile sports betting in a post on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter.
Hosemann insists that mobile sports betting wouldn't be good for Mississippi
Hosemann cited a laundry list of problems that the legalization of online sports betting could create in Mississippi. It's worth noting that studies have refuted many of his listed concerns.
He doesn't believe that the launch of mobile sports betting would be economically advantageous to the state.
“Mobile sports betting wouldn’t create a single job for Mississippians and comes with a social cost that is of increasing concern,” Hosemann wrote in his X post. “The Senate should continue to reject this harmful legislation.”
Hosemann believes that the advent of mobile sports wagering would harm brick-and-mortar betting sites. There are tens of thousands of people employed by the state's retail casinos.
“Mobile sports betting could undermine the billions of dollars invested in brick-and-mortar gaming facilities across our state, increase opportunities for misconduct and illegal actions involving athletes, and raise serious questions about whether the resulting tax revenue would even be sufficient to offset the associated social and economic costs,” Hosemann wrote.
On the contrary, studies conducted in other states that have legalized online sports often actually display an uptick in gambling at retail sites.
Hosemann also expressed concern that the easier access to online betting would serve as a gateway to an increase in addictive gambling behavior, and even suicide.
“Online mobile sports betting increases the risk of gambling-related harm and addiction compared with traditional in-person betting (roughly 1 in 5 people with problem gambler disorder attempt suicide),” Hosemann wrote in his post. “Our young adults are particularly susceptible and can receive push notifications to bet on their phones 24/7.”
An online sports betting bill stalled in the state assembly
His anti-online gambling stance leaves Hosemann on the opposite side of the argument in comparison to fellow Republican House Speaker Jason White. White has been an ardent supporter of the legalization of mobile sports betting. Since assuming the role of speaker in 2024, White has prioritized the legalization of online sports betting. He's pushed the issue forward on several occasions, ultimately without success.
Hosemann's staunch opposition has stunted every attempt to push an online sports betting legalization bill through the state legislature. It's similar to the anti-gambling stance exhibited in Texas by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who is blocking legalization in that state
An online sports betting bill failed to pass the State Assembly in 2026. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives. However, it died in the Senate.
Mississippi offers limited mobile sports betting
Mississippi was among the earliest states to legalize retail sports betting. That move was made in 2018.
Retail sports betting is accessible on-site at any of the state's 30 casinos. It is also possible to place mobile sports bets while within the geofenced confines of any of these casinos.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
+9
- 20+ sports available for wagering
- Pre-match and in-play betting
- Unique features like live streaming and boosted odds
Bet $10 Get $150 in Bonus Bets
Find out more on bet365's website
- Over 20 sports
- Extensive betting markets
- Live betting feature
New Users – Bet $5 Get $200 in Bet Reset Tokens for 5 Days
+6
- Deep market coverage across major U.S. sports and leagues
- Same Game Parlay builder is fast and easy to use
- Live betting interface updates quickly with real-time odds