Shady winners lose out
From July 1, Mississippians who hit slot jackpots or other related gambling bonanzas but owe money for child support will have their winnings withheld by the state.
bill will pursue “parents delinquent in child support”
The Mississippi Legislature passed SB 2369 on Tuesday after the House voted 92-22 in favor of the bill that will pursue “parents delinquent in child support” upon Governor Tate Reeves’ expected approval.
The Republican Senator Walter Michel-authored bill gives the Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC) and the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) the power to implement a process to retain certain gaming payouts from support-owing gambling parents.
According to SB 2369, published by the Mississippi Legislature, the payouts retained will include “slot machine annuities, sports betting and/or other reportable cash winnings.”
Aid gamblers beware
Sen. Michel said the bill targets slot machine payouts reported to the Internal Revenue Service and is for “primarily winnings over $2,000.”
The MDHS has pushed for years to make the withholding of gambling winnings state policy. Spokesperson Mark Jones stated SB 2369 was “another measure that MDHS has undertaken to serve families across Mississippi.”
Mississippi’s Administrative Office of Courts in consultation with the MDHS will establish a mandatory-to-use “Child Support Order Tracking System” in order to police the bill. The bill also states that casinos are to provide the MDHS with information on “noncustodial parents delinquent in child support.”
Mississippi Today cited federal data revealing the state only collected 53% of court-ordered child support in 2024 against a 65% national rate.
Win for the kids
Senate Gaming Chairman David Blount, meanwhile, proffered data showing that “153,964 children are owed $1.7bn in past-due support” in Mississippi.
deadbeat parents”
“When I heard that amount, I was just flabbergasted,” Michel said. “It’s a step in helping DHS collect these past due payments from deadbeat parents.”
Louisiana reportedly intercepted an annual average of almost $1m from casinos in the first nine years after enacting a similar bill.
