Mississippi state senator Joey Fillingane has introduced a bill clearly targeting online sweepstakes casinos in the Magnolia State.
His Senate Bill No. 2510 would alter current gambling laws to explicitly deem ‘online sweepstakes casinos’ illegal in Mississippi.
Mississippi Sweepstakes Laws
Like many other states, Mississippi already outlaws physical sweepstakes businesses, and Fillingane’s proposed bill would extend the ban to the online realm. In technical terms, it would “amend section 97-33-8, Mississippi Code of 1972 to include internet sweepstakes casinos”. However, “sweepstakes casinos” is not clearly defined here, which could lead to potential problems with future interpretation. This may be fixed in review, of course.
The bill outlines penalties too, with offenders subject to fines as high as $100,000, and up to 10 years in prison. On top of this, assets, rights, or privileges tied to the violation could be seized. It’s likely these consequences would be more than enough to drive all sweepstakes operators out of Mississippi.
Mississippi’s Gaming Landscape
The Magnolia State is well-known for its physical casinos, especially along the Gulf Coast and the Mississippi River. Regulated under the Mississippi Gaming Control Act, they generate a good deal of revenue for the state. Online casinos are not permitted though, and some lawmakers believe sweepstakes sites are simply cheating the rules. It’s argued these sites are working like online casinos by offering gambling and chances at real money prizes, just under a different guise.
However, it can’t be denied that sweepstakes casinos are currently booming, with tens of new operators entering the market every year, many based overseas. This style of gameplay has been available in the US for over a decade now, but current popularity makes it hard for lawmakers to ignore.
On these sites, players use currencies such as Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins that have no inherent value attached. However, Sweepstakes Coins can eventually be redeemed for cash once certain conditions are met. Operators argue that because players cannot purchase Sweepstakes Coins (only receive them as bonuses), the system is completely legal under sweepstakes laws.
Effort to Drive Online Casinos out of Mississippi
Mississippi Gaming Commission Executive Director, Jay McDaniel disagrees and has already expressed concerns about their legitimacy in the state. However, much of his organisation’s work is currently bound up in removing offshore real-money gambling sites, leaving his hands tied on sweepstakes for now.
Fillingane’s bill seeks to put sweepstakes firmly back on the agenda, but it still has ways to go before it becomes law. It will move through the usual reviews and Mississippi state voting process, and this does not guarantee it will pass.
Conclusion
Bill 2510 comes in the same month as other similar proposals and discussions at the state level across the US. New York state senator Joe Addabbo already expressed intentions to ban sweepstakes sites in NY this month. That’s while New Jersey assemblyman Clinton Calabrese submitted a bill to officially legalize and regulate sweepstakes sites in NJ.
Each state approaches sweepstakes casinos differently, and with several ongoing court cases, there’s still no unified consensus or definitive ruling.
For now, these sites continue to operate in the main, while states work to shape their own legal interpretations and move toward clearer regulations one way or the other.