Why Mississippi, Not Washington, Sets the Rules on Gaming
By Hank Zuber, State Representative and Chairman of the House State Affairs Committee
In Mississippi, gaming isn’t regulated from a spreadsheet or a conference room in Washington. It’s regulated here at home, where lawmakers understand the local economy, the communities involved, and the responsibility that comes with allowing gambling to operate legally and safely. That distinction matters more than ever as new forms of federally approved wagering draw attention without meaningful input from the states.
Over the past year, Mississippians have seen growing news coverage around so-called prediction markets. These platforms operate under approval from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and allow wagering on sports and other outcomes. While supporters frame them as financial products, the reality is simple: they function like gambling but exist outside Mississippi’s regulatory system.
That difference isn’t academic. It goes to the heart of fairness, accountability, and state authority.
Mississippi has spent years building a gaming framework that works. Licensed casinos and sportsbooks operate under clear rules, submit to ongoing oversight, and contribute to responsible gaming programs that protect consumers. The Mississippi Gaming Commission enforces these standards and ensures integrity across the industry. This structure didn’t happen by accident. It reflects deliberate policy choices made by state leaders accountable to Mississippi voters.
Prediction markets bypass that structure entirely. They don’t answer to Mississippi regulators, don’t contribute to state-funded responsible gaming efforts, and don’t operate under the same consumer protection requirements. Yet they compete for the same customers. That creates an uneven playing field that disadvantages responsible operators who follow Mississippi law and reinvest in our communities.
The federal agency overseeing these platforms, the CFTC, was established to regulate commodity markets, including agriculture, energy, and financial futures. That role is important, and Mississippi producers rely on those markets functioning properly. But gaming regulation is not a commodities issue. It is a public policy question that states are best positioned to handle because the impacts are felt locally.
The Supreme Court recognized this reality in 2018 when it affirmed that states, not the federal government, have the authority to regulate sports betting. Mississippi accepted that responsibility and built a system rooted in transparency, enforcement, and local oversight. Allowing federally approved betting platforms to operate outside that system undermines both the spirit and the substance of that decision.
As Chairman of the House State Affairs Committee, I believe strongly in protecting Mississippi’s right to govern issues that affect our economy and our communities. Innovation should not come at the expense of accountability. If companies want to offer gambling products to Mississippians, they should be willing to meet Mississippi’s standards, just like every licensed operator already does. That is why I am supportive of current legislative language in Washington to ban prediction markets from offering sports contracts, and I encourage the entire Mississippi federal delegation to join me in this support.
This isn’t about opposing new ideas. It’s about preserving a regulatory framework that has proven effective, responsible, and fair. Mississippi regulates gaming openly and carefully, with accountability to the people who live here.
Washington should respect that work and allow states to continue doing the job they’ve already shown they can do well.
