In a decisive 44-1 vote, the Mississippi Senate has passed a bill that would make online sweepstakes casinos illegal, setting the stage for a potential nationwide precedent. Senate Bill 2510, in its revised form, was introduced on the Senate floor just a day before the vote and swiftly secured approval.

At its core, the bill maintains the key provisions of the original draft, imposing severe criminal penalties for those involved in operating or promoting online sweepstakes casinos. Under SB 2510, each violation would be classified as a felony, carrying a hefty $100,000 fine, a prison sentence of up to 10 years, and the forfeiture of assets.

This aggressive legislative move signals Mississippi’s firm stance against unregulated online gambling, a rapidly growing industry that has often existed in legal gray areas. Supporters argue that the bill protects consumers from potentially predatory practices, while critics contend that it could push gambling into even less regulated spaces rather than eliminating it.

With Senate approval secured, the bill now moves to the Mississippi House of Representatives for further debate. However, a motion to reconsider has been filed in the Senate, leaving some uncertainty about its final trajectory. If upheld, Mississippi would become the first state legislature in the U.S. to enact a sweeping ban on online sweepstakes casinos—potentially influencing similar efforts in other states, as it previously did with Connecticut.

As the debate unfolds, one question remains: Will this crackdown effectively curb unregulated online gambling, or will it drive players and operators further underground?