Legislation introduced that would intercept gambling winnings from parents who owe child support

A bill that would intercept the gambling winnings of parents not paying child support has been introduced in the Mississippi legislature.

In 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that approximately 30 percent of American parents owed child support were not receiving payments, and under half are given the total amount they are owed.

To bridge this gap, Representative Lee Yancey, R-Brandon, has filed House Bill 6 to require parents with an arrearage in child support payments to surrender gaming winnings to fulfill the legal obligation of providing for children who live with the other parent.

The bill would work in conjunction with Mississippi Code § 27-115-45 which grants the Mississippi Department of Human Services authority to withhold lottery prizes of people with outstanding child support arrearages.

“If you win the lottery, your winnings are withheld and sent to your child if you owe child support. I want to do the same thing with casino winnings,” Yancey said on MidDays with Gerard Gibert. “This bill would require procedures to be put in place to intercept casino winnings to give to the children if there is arrearage in paying child support.”

If the bill is passed, the Mississippi Gaming Commission would be required to prescribe the manner and procedure in which child support arrearages may be collected from gaming winnings and slot machine annuities.

Watch the full interview with Representative Lee Yancey below.