Sun Herald – House Gaming Committee Chairman Richard Bennett, R-Long Beach, has commissioned a task force of experts to look at the pros and cons of Internet gambling and sports betting in Mississippi.
The group’s first meeting will be in May during the Southern Gaming Summit in Biloxi. It will present its findings by the end of the year.
Bennett said this in no way endorses either form of gambling.
“I’m looking for an unbiased study,” he said. It will be more comprehensive than anything he’s seen on the subjects, he said, and he envisions other states using the information that is collected.
The original intent was to consider Internet gambling. The focus grew to include all forms of sports betting when, Bennett said, “a number of legislators from the Coast and other areas came to me and asked me to add that to it.”
Should the Legislature decide to look at expanding to Internet gambling or sports betting in the future, Bennett said the report will be ready.
