Mississippi, West Virginia okay sports betting regulations

Mississippi and West Virginia have each approved new sports betting regulations, putting both states on track to launch legal wagering ahead of the upcoming NFL season.

On Thursday, the Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC) approved final regulations governing sports betting at the state’s 28 brick-and-mortar gaming venues. By law, the regs will kick in 30 days from now, meaning local punters could be wagering on sports by late-July.

The regulations, an early draft of which first surfaced in May, allow for land-based wagering only, although mobile wagering will be permitted provided the bettor is physically present on casino property. Operators will pay 12% tax on their betting revenue.

As with the earlier draft, there is no ‘integrity fee’ or royalty payable to professional or college sports bodies. Mississippi will also allow punters to wager on Mississippi collegiate sports, unlike the new sports wagering rules in Delaware and New Jersey.