Online Gambling in Mississippi (2023)

Gambling Laws in Mississippi

Gambling in casinos began in Mississippi after the state legalized the establishment of dockside casinos in 1990. Before now, the civil war led to a halt to gambling activities. The first casinos to launch gambling operations on the state's riverside were The Isle of Capri, President Casino, and Biloxi Belle. However, sports betting was completely illegal due to the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018. 

PASPA's repeal stirred Mississippi to open its doors to retail sportsbooks and permitted online mobile sports betting, albeit with a condition. Players have to be within the property of a licensed casino to gamble legally on any sports event. BetMGM was the first online bookie to enter the market in 2021. Additionally, residents of the state can legally bet online on daily fantasy sports using sportsbooks like DraftKings and FanDuel.

Mississippi Online Gambling Laws

Gambling activities kicked off in Mississippi after the state passed the bill that legalized dockside gambling in 1990. After that, sports betting was illegal in the state until the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018.

Before the Supreme Court repealed the Act, Mississippi enacted The Fantasy Contest Act in 2017 that permitted Daily Fantasy Sports betting in the state. In addition, the previous Governor, Phil Bryant, signed House Bill 967 into law, which legalized DFS betting and gave the Mississippi Gaming Commission the authority to regulate all forms of sports fantasy betting. Currently, players within the state lines can legally engage in online Daily Fantasy Sports betting on DraftKings and FanDuel.

The tussle that occurred during the passage of The Fantasy Contest Act led to the removal of the part of the law that prohibited sports gambling in the state. However, sports betting didn't commence immediately because PASPA was still in effect. After its repeal, sports betting activities took off in Mississippi, although online sports betting was not entirely allowed. Up until now, gamblers in the state are only permitted to gamble on sports in-person at licensed locations or place bets online while they are physically present at a licensed location.

Mississippi Gambling Governing Body (Mississippi Gaming Commission)

The Mississippi Gaming Commission handles all matters on gambling in the state, including casino and sports betting activities. The Commission was established in 1990 by the Mississippi Gaming Control Act, which came into existence after the Mississippi Legislature passed House Bill 2, which permitted dockside casino gambling in 1990. The Mississippi State Tax Commission regulated gambling activities before the Gaming Commission commenced its duties in the state in 1993. 

The Mississippi Gambling Commission has three heads (Commissioners) appointed by the state's governor. The Commissioners serve for four staggered years, with no Commissioner heading the gambling authority for more than ten years.

This Commission aims to implement the Gaming Control Act and Charitable Gaming Laws of the State of Mississippi. The Mississippi Gaming Commission enacts rules and regulations under the authority of these laws to protect the state's integrity and preserve the public confidence in the gambling industry.

Online Sportsbooks in Mississippi

As stated earlier, all forms of betting in Mississippi (except on Daily Fantasy Sports) can only occur on the grounds of a licensed casino. Online sportsbooks have to partner with land or water-based casinos in the state to offer sports betting services. While you can create accounts with the sportsbooks from anywhere in Mississippi, you must be within the premises of an authorized casino to wager legally on sports. This section reviews on-site sportsbooks in Mississippi to help you properly understand how these platforms work. 

Caesars Sportsbook 9.4/10

After signing partnership agreements with more than ten casinos in the state, Caesars sportsbook (formerly known as William Hill) stands as Mississippi's most widespread gambling platform. The sports offerings in Caesars sportsbook include football, basketball, baseball, tennis, soccer, swimming, golf, cricket, tennis, etc. Players also enjoy a wide range of betting markets to explore, across all the available sports, including spreads, moneylines, futures, prop bets, live bets, spreads, etc. 

All customers can receive juicy promotional offers, such as same game parlay promos, parlay booster promos, Friday doubles, etc. 

To gamble on the Caesars sportsbook platform in Mississippi, visit any of the following casinos:

• 1st Jackpot Casino in Robinsonville
• Ameristar Casino in Vicksburg
• Boomtown Casino in Biloxi
• Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast in Bay Saint Louis
• Hollywood Casino Tunica in Robinsonville
• Island View Casino Resort in Gulfport
• Isle of Capri Casino & Resort in Lula
• Lady Luck Casino in Vicksburg
• Palace Casino Resort in Biloxi
• Silver Slipper Casino in Bay Saint Louis
• Treasure Bay Casino and Hotel in Biloxi
• Trop Casino Greenville in Greenville
• WaterView Casino and Hotel in Vicksburg

Draftkings 9.3/10

DraftKings is popular among gamblers in the United States for many reasons. The betting operator offers highly competitive odds in major and minor leagues. It allows gamblers to place different bets, ranging from futures to prop-bets, moneyline bets, live-game bets, parlays, and teasers. In addition, players in Mississippi can wager on games from various sports, such as professional and college football, baseball, hockey, UFC, boxing, auto racing, and basketball. 

DraftKings is one of the two sportsbooks permitted by the Mississippi Gaming Commission to offer Daily Fantasy Sports betting in the state.

Visit the Scarlet Pearl Casino in D'Iberville to gamble on your favorite sports on the DraftKings sportsbook.

FanDuel 9.3/10

Similar to DraftKings, FanDuel allows gamblers in Mississippi to bet on various sports and leagues (football, baseball, golf, boxing, soccer, basketball, UFC, tennis, motorsports) and Daily Fantasy Sports. The sportsbook also widens the range of possible bets by letting players explore numerous bet types on each game, including live betting, player props, parlays, spreads, over/under, moneylines, etc. 

Existing customers can enjoy a plethora of promotions from the sportsbook. To enjoy this gambling platform's gaming products and incredible benefits, visit Sam's Town Casino in Robinsonville or IP Casino Resort Spa in Biloxi. 

BetMGM 9.2/10

BetMGM is a subsidiary of MGM Resorts that offers sports betting services to US residents. It was the first sportsbook to launch in Mississippi in September 2021. Players in Mississippi can gamble on games from many leagues and sports worldwide, including NFL, NCAA, MLB, WBC, NBA, WNBA, NCAAB, NHL, and UFC, among others. The wagering platform also allows players to bet on leagues in golf, soccer, tennis, etc. In addition, the easy parlay generator assists gamblers in placing same-game or multi-game bets on various sports without any hassle. 

New customers on the platform enjoy a welcome bonus offer in risk-free bets while existing players are lavished with free bets, boosted odds, numerous bonus offers, and BetMGM reward points to unlock online on-property rewards at licensed casinos in Mississippi. As fast as payment goes, the platform ensures that its customers have several secure and reliable options to make their pick. 

To wager on the BetMGM platform, visit Gold Strike Casino Resort in Robinsonville or Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi.

PRR Sports 9.0/10

PRR Sports is a sports betting app launched in 2019 by the Pearl Rivers Resort (PRR). Located in Choctaw, Neshoba County, this resort comprises two casinos (Silver Star Hotel & Casino and Golden Moon Hotel & Casino), an inn, a golf club and golf course, a theme park, and a spa. To help cut the queues at the wagering lounges in its casinos, PRR developed Mississippi's first sports betting app in 2019. 

With the app, players can wager from anywhere in the casinos without being physically present in the betting lounge. The app also allows players to place bets on their favorite sports events, including live betting, traditional straight bets, round robins, teasers, parlays, etc. 

To wager on the PRR Sports app, visit any of the following casinos:

• Silver Star Hotel & Casino in Philadelphia
• Golden Moon Hotel & Casino in Philadelphia
• Bok Homa Casino in Heidelberg

Why You Should Choose Mississippi Legal Sites Over Offshore Illegal Operators 

Although you need to be physically present at an authorized casino to legally gamble on sports in the Magnolia state, taking the "easy" route by betting on illegal offshore sites will cause you trouble. Legal gambling sites hold licenses from an official gambling authority, which permits them to offer betting products or services within a state or country.

A gambling site's possession of a valid license assures you of its credibility since it is accountable to the licensing body. However, such sites must also comply with the stringent standards of the gambling authority that licensed them or risk having their licenses revoked. 

Legal Mississippi sportsbooks employ various security protocols on their platforms to prevent their customers' finances and personal information from getting into the wrong hands. To further guarantee maximum protection for their players, these sites only support third-party payment solutions with highly effective security systems. In addition, their customer support teams provide quick responses to questions or complaints, so players are not stranded when they need help. 

Contrarily, the activities of offshore gambling platforms are generally unregulated and mostly unlicensed. These platforms either lack valid authorizations or display licenses from untrustworthy gambling organizations. Since they do not answer any credible authority, they engage in numerous illicit activities, such as manipulation and financial/data theft. 

They offer unreasonable promotional deals to lure unsuspecting players, then turn against them when it's time to pay out winnings. In addition, customer support is virtually non-existent, and gamblers are often left on their own with no one to report to when they encounter issues.