Mississippi lawmakers have advanced legislation requiring casinos to deduct unpaid child support from certain gambling payouts. House Bill 520 and Senate Bill 2369, which passed this week, would mandate withholding from slot jackpots exceeding $2,000 and substantial sports betting wins.
How the Withholding System Would Work
The measures require casinos to check large winnings against a state Department of Human Services child support delinquency database. Winners with outstanding payments would have the owed amount deducted before receiving their payout. Casinos could charge an administrative fee up to $35 per transaction, and individuals would have 30 days to dispute any withholding error.
| Bill Provisions | Details |
|---|---|
| Applicable Winnings | Slot jackpots over $2,000; substantial sports betting wins |
| Effective Date | System operational by January 1, 2027 |
| Admin Fee | Up to $35 per transaction |
| Dispute Window | 30 days |
Support and Opposition
Republican Sen. Walter Michel supports using the database to direct funds toward children. However, critics like Chuck Adams argue the government already collects from paychecks and tax refunds. Data security concerns were raised by Democratic Rep. John Hines, while bill author Rep. Jay McKnight assured that casinos would not access personal information.
The bill is the latest in a series of gambling-related proposals in Mississippi, including recent renewed discussions on legalizing mobile sports betting. If enacted, the system aims to recoup approximately 66% of its operational costs through collected funds.
