Mississippi Sports Betting

Mississippi was the fourth state to legalize sports betting, with the Gold Strike Casino and Beau Rivage taking their first bets on August 1, 2018. The state has now expanded to have 24 different casinos offering retail sports betting, but with one major flaw: there is no mobile sports betting of any kind.

That doesn’t appear to be changing any time soon, either; a bill last year was filed, but never advanced out of the committee. In February 2020, HB 172, SB 2613 and SB 2614 were filed in February with the aim to fully legalize online and mobile sports betting in the state… but all of those also died in committee the following month.

Considering Mississippi brought in $5.3M in tax revenue in 2019 off in-person wagers alone, adding a mobile component could cause that number to skyrocket – making it a curious decision for the state to not progress with adding online sports betting.

Is sports betting legal in Mississippi?

Yes.  Mississippi was one of the most aggressive states in regulating sports betting, legalizing it within their own legislature even before PASPA was struck down in the Supreme Court. They did so with HB 967, an amendment to the Mississippi Gaming Control Act, that simply removed a small piece of language that prohibited sports betting.

Where can I bet at Mississippi sportsbooks?

There are currently 24 casinos in Mississippi that offer retail sports betting. Thirteen of them partnered with William Hill sportsbook; three casinos paired with IGT sportsbook; MGM, FanDuel, Caesars and BetAmerica are all connected to two casinos each. Foundation Gaming Group is paired with the Fitz Casino, while the Magnolia Bluffs Casino, Golden Nugget and Hard Rock Casino all have their own sportsbooks.

There is a full slate of DFS offerings available, as Mississippi supports all the major players as well.

What about mobile sports betting apps in Mississippi?

All gambling in Mississippi must be done on-site at one of their water- or land-based casinos, and that restriction also includes sports betting. Some casinos offer mobile betting (which can only be done while at the casino), but there is no full-scale online/mobile sports betting apps across the state.

Currently, you must be 21 years old to place a bet in Mississippi.

Who is allowed to offer Mississippi sports betting?

Currently there are 24 active casinos in Mississippi which offer legal sports betting, and those are the only locations in the state thus far where you can place a bit.

Who regulates or licenses Mississippi sports betting?

Dating back to the amendments made to the Mississippi Gaming Control Act, as a result of HB 967, sports betting is regulated by the Mississippi Gaming Commission.

There is still work to be done in Mississippi, especially on the mobile betting front, but the latest bill to be filed, HB 172, met the same fate as its similar predecessors – it died in committee.

What sports will be favorites of Mississippi sports bettors?

In Mississippi, college sports rule all, with the Ole Miss Rebels and Mississippi State Bulldogs in the SEC, the Southern Miss Golden Eagles in Conference-USA and a few mid-major teams, highlighted by the Jackson State University Tigers.