When Mississippi decided to legalize sports betting on a restricted basis back in 2018, we didn’t do it on a whim. We took our time, did it right, and built a system that makes sense for our people — not for politicians in Washington.
We set up strong rules. Our Gaming Commission keeps a close eye on things. And our casinos and sports books give back to the communities where they do business. That’s how it should be. Mississippi calls the plays, not D.C. And guess what? It works. Our approach has brought in nearly $43 million in tax revenue since 2018 — money that supports Mississippi jobs, boosts tourism, and helps fund programs that matter to our people. We also make sure a portion of that goes toward responsible gaming programs, helping folks who need it and keeping betting safe and fair.
Now, a federal agency wants to stick its nose where it doesn’t belong. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission — the CFTC — is trying to let new “prediction markets” take bets on the outcomes of sports and other events. They call it “investing.” But let’s be real: when you’re putting money on who wins a football game, that’s not investing. That’s betting. Plain and simple.
Here’s the problem. These new platforms aren’t licensed in Mississippi. They don’t pay Mississippi taxes. They don’t support Mississippi programs. And they don’t follow Mississippi’s rules. Yet they’re allowed to operate under federal approval — giving them an unfair advantage over local businesses that do play by the rules.
That’s not fair to the hardworking folks who’ve invested in our state and done things the right way. And it’s not fair to Mississippi taxpayers who lose out when money flows out of state instead of back into our communities.
The CFTC wasn’t created to regulate sports or gaming. Its job is to handle commodities — things like oil, gas, and agriculture. Folks up in Washington might understand a bushel of corn, but they sure don’t understand how Mississippi runs its gaming industry. We built a system that works for our people, and we don’t need Washington bureaucrats trying to “fix” it.
The Supreme Court already made it clear: states — not the federal government — have the right to regulate gaming. Mississippi has proven that we can do it responsibly, safely, and in a way that benefits our communities.
This isn’t about politics. It’s about common sense. Mississippi knows what’s best for Mississippi. We do not need Washington calling the plays or changing the rules in the middle of the game.
We’ve got a good thing going on: a system that’s fair, responsible, and locally accountable. Let’s keep it that way.
The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the views of SuperTalk Mississippi Media.
