Mississippi's Mobile Sports Betting Push: A Tale of Lobbies and Super Bowl Trips
Gambling company sponsors Super Bowl event for Mississippi's House Speaker and staff, likely in favor of legalized sports betting in the state
Take a gander at the intriguing dance between the sports gambling lobby and the Mississippi legislature—you'll find them shaking hands over the legalization of mobile sports betting. Just like in other states, this lobby has pulled out all the stops, dishing out hefty dough to sway politicians.
A tantalizing piece of this lobbying effort was an under-the- radar jaunt to the Super Bowl in New Orleans by House Speaker Jason White and his crew—including staff and significant others. Guess who footed the bill for this pricey weekend getaway? None other than DraftKings, one of the USA's gaming giants, known for its hefty investments in pushing for legal online betting across the nation[1][2].
Now, here's the catch: thanks to a gaping loophole in Mississippi's lenient lobbying laws, there's no public record of this costly weekend in the reports meant to chronicle spending on behalf of state employees.
Diving Deeper:
This Super Bowl trip is a prime example of the gambling industry's potential influence over Mississippi politics, particularly with the push for mobile sports betting legalization[4]. The Sports Betting Alliance, which counts DraftKings amongst its members, has generously contributed to lobbying and campaign donations in the state to further their agenda[4].
- The sports gambling lobby, as seen in Mississippi's mobile sports betting push, has been actively involved in lobbying, investing heavily to sway politicians towards legalizing mobile sports betting.
- Notably, House Speaker Jason White of Mississippi took a trip to the Super Bowl in New Orleans, a trip funded by gaming giant DraftKings, known for its efforts in pushing for legal online betting.
- This trip, however, is shrouded in mystery due to a loophole in Mississippi's lenient lobbying laws, as there's no public record of the trip's costs in the expected reports on state employees' spending.
- This Super Bowl trip and the gambling industry's involvement in Mississippi politics, particularly in the push for mobile sports betting legalization, underscores the potential influence of the gambling industry on state politics.
- The Sports Betting Alliance, which includes DraftKings as a member, has been generous in their lobbying and campaign donations within Mississippi, a move that further demonstrates their intent towards mobile sports betting legalization.
