Mississippi Commission Study into Online Gaming and Sports Betting

Despite previously rejecting the passing of legislation to regulate online gambling, the Mississippi House Gaming Committee has decided to re-examine entering the online gambling market with a study that will look at online gaming and sports betting.

The chairman of the committee, Richard Bennett (R-Long Beach) has commissioned the study. Bennett is thought to be against the passing of legislation however, he is reportedly looking for an unbiased study.

The study will be chaired by Allen Godfrey, the executive director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission.

Godfrey said, “Our most important role in this task force will be advisory, with data and analysis about internet gambling,”

The study will examine the operation of online gambling in the states of Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey. However, Godfrey explained that the committee “will not be making any recommendations regarding any new legislation or regulations”. Instead the study will aim to present more information.

In the past two years there have been various attempts in the Mississippi legislature to pass casino online gaming. However, these have all failed to pass the House Ways and Means Committee. Nonetheless, the commissioning of a study by the state is definitely a positive sign for those in favor of regulation.