- Mississippi Representative Kevin Felsher is pushing for mobile sports betting legislation in 2026 after previous attempts failed in the Senate.
- Sports betting tax revenue could help address the state’s $26-27 billion retirement system shortfall.
- While current law requires in-person casino visits, 60 percent of student gamblers already bet online.
JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi Representative Kevin Felsher thinks the state has a real shot at finally making mobile sports betting a reality, and the timing couldn’t be better given how desperately the state needs new revenue sources.
The Biloxi lawmaker has been pushing for online wagering expansion after watching previous attempts die in the Senate. His pitch is straightforward: let people bet from their phones while making sure the casinos that have powered the Gulf Coast economy for decades don’t get left behind in the process.
Felsher is no stranger to this battle. He was a co-author of House Bill 997 in 2022, which attempted to authorize online wagering on athletic and sporting events via platforms operated by casinos with licenses.
The measure restricted each gambling license to a single online platform and mandated that bettors register in person at their linked casino at least once a year. The law had a sunset clause and was intended to expire in July 2023, despite the cautious approach.
Funding the Retirement Crisis
What makes this year different is the math. The Public Employees’ Retirement System is only 55 percent funded with a shortfall hovering between $26 billion and $27 billion. That’s money owed to police officers, teachers, and other public workers who depend on those benefits. Legal sports betting could pump fresh tax dollars into PERS, giving lawmakers a politically palatable way to address the crisis.
Studies reveal that 60% of students who gamble have already placed bets on sportsbook websites. Approximately 15% use offshore platforms, while a further 15% use illegal bookies.
None of these wagers generate any revenue for the state.
If legislators take action, Mississippi sportsbooks may be able to take that market. Mississippi has a chance to be one of the first states to enact new sports betting laws in 2026 and Felsher wants any new legislation to mandate collaborations between mobile betting sites and current casinos.
