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Online Sports Betting in
Mississippi
Mississippi offers both commercial and tribal locations for sports betting.
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Where to bet on sports in Mississippi
The state of Mississippi’s laws limit gambling to gamblers physically present in a licensed casino. Sports betting is permitted electronically, but only if conducted on-site. For now, no mobile or online wagering can take place outside the grounds of a casino.
During the state’s 2019 legislative session, Sen. Willie Simmons introduced the Gaming Control Act. The bill would have legalized mobile sports betting apps that could be used anywhere in the state. However, other MS lawmakers were not ready to expand the state’s sports betting operations quite yet and the bill died in committee on February 5, 2019.
A similar bill was introduced in January of 2020 when MS HB 172 was brought by Rep. Cedric Burnett in the state House. That bill failed to gain any traction and eventually died in committee.
The most recent attempt came in February of 2021, however, all three online sports betting bills that legislative session died in committee.
Fortunately for Mississippi’s sports wagering enthusiasts, there are a plethora of casinos to choose from.
The full list of Mississippi casinos that offer sports betting include:
- 1st Jackpot Casino
- Ameristar Casino Hotel
- Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
- Boomtown Casino
- Fitz Casino Hotel
- Gold Strike Casino Resort
- Golden Nugget
- Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
- Harlow’s Casino Resort
- Harrah’s Gulf Coast
- Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast
- Hollywood Casino Tunica
- Horseshoe Casino & Hotel
- IP Casino Resort Spa
- Island View Casino Resort
- Magnolia Bluffs Casino
- Palace Casino Resort
- Riverwalk Casino and Hotel
- Sam’s Town
- Scarlett Pearl Casino Resort
- Silver Slipper Casino
- Treasure Bay Casino and Hotel
- WaterView Casino and Hotel
The road to legal sports betting in Mississippi
Legalized sports betting for Mississippi trailed shortly behind Delaware and New Jersey. Although they may have been only the third state to join in the gaming trend, the state set itself apart from the others by becoming the first state outside of Nevada to allow bets on in-state colleges along with professional teams.
Making state history, on August 1, 2018, the Beau Rivage Casino and Resort and Gold Strike Casino Resort took the state’s first sports bets. Following a few short weeks later, 20 of the Mississippi’s commercial casinos were offering sports betting. Two casinos also opened their own sportsbooks.
Lawmakers in the state have tried to legalize statewide online sports betting several times since 2018. Multiple bills have been filed every year since to do so. But, all of them have failed because the state’s casinos want to keep sports betting in-house.
Tribal Casinos
There are four casinos in the state of Mississippi that are owned and managed by Tribal groups. Tribal casinos do not fall under the umbrella of the state’s gaming board, the Mississippi Gaming Commission.
- Bok Homa Casino
- Pearl River Resort
- Golden Moon Hotel & Casino at Pearl River Resort
- Silver Star Casino
Mississippi sports betting FAQs
Where is sports betting available in Mississippi
There are more than 20 casinos that offer sports betting. The general gambling laws that govern where gambling can occur apply to sports betting as well.
How old do you need to be in order to bet on sports?
The legal age for sports betting is 21, just as in most states across the country.
Can you bet on your phone in Mississippi?
Technically yes. Mobile betting is available but with the caveat that you need to be physically present within the casino in order to place bets. This is not necessarily a bad thing as you can bet while sitting in the bar or somewhere else within the casino.
What body governs gaming and sports wagering in Mississippi?
Aside from the Tribal casinos, the Mississippi Gaming Commission (GGS) are in charge of gaming in Mississippi, and rules and regulation are upheld by the MGC.