Mississippi Brings Back Sweepstakes Casino Ban Proposal

A Fresh Filing With Familiar Goals

Senate Bill 2104 was filed on January 9, 2026. Senators Joey Fillingane and David Blount introduced the measure together. Both lawmakers played roles in last year’s debate.

SB2104 now sits in the Senate Judiciary, Division B Committee. No hearing date has been set yet. Still, early signs suggest the Senate may move quickly.

Online Games Face Clear Limits

The bill expands how Mississippi defines illegal gambling. It adds direct language covering online and computerized games. That includes sports pools, race books, and sweepstakes casino-style games.

If SB2104 passes, offering these games inside Mississippi would be illegal. The bill leaves little room for doubt — a key change from older laws.

Tougher Penalties Take Center Stage

The bill also raises penalties tied to illegal gaming activity. Operating an illegal online casino would become a felony offense. Key enforcement tools in SB2104 include:

• Fines of up to $100,000 per conviction

• Prison sentences of up to ten years

• Asset forfeiture tied to illegal gaming activity
  
  

Prosecutors could file cases locally or in Hinds County. The Mississippi Gaming Commission could approve contingency-fee agreements for forfeiture cases — a notable shift in approach.

Legal Casinos Stay Protected

Despite its reach, SB2104 keeps clear boundaries. Existing legal gaming remains untouched. Riverboat casinos and approved shore-based sites keep operating.

Cruise vessel betting also stays legal. These carve-outs appear deliberate — lawmakers want to protect licensed casinos. The bill targets sweepstakes casinos only. It avoids shaking the current casino market.

A Bill Shaped by Last Year’s Failure

In 2025, the Senate passed a sweepstakes casino ban. The House later changed it by adding sports betting language. The Senate rejected that move.

Talks stalled. The bill collapsed.

SB2104 avoids that path. It focuses only on banning sweepstakes casinos. That narrower approach could help avoid another deadlock.

National Pressure Builds

Mississippi’s move fits a wider pattern. Several states passed sweepstakes casino bans last year. Others are now debating similar bills.

Indiana has already held hearings. Florida, Maine, Iowa, and Virginia are next. Momentum appears to be building — and Mississippi lawmakers are watching closely.

The Senate may advance SB2104 soon. The House response remains uncertain. This time, though, the odds look different.