Mississippi was among the first wave of states to launch sports betting following the repeal of PASPA. Today, more than two dozen sportsbooks operate at casinos across the state. Mississippi and a few other states pre-authorized sports betting before the PASPA decision, setting the stage for a quick rollout after its repeal. Mississippi sports betting law establishes a minimum age of 21 to participate and requires customers to place wagers in person at licensed sportsbooks. State law only permits online sports betting in Mississippi to the extent that guests may place wagers from their mobile devices while physically located on casino property.
State of Mississippi Sports Betting Overview
Full statewide online sports betting is not yet legal in Mississippi, but lawmakers have introduced numerous bills to date that would authorize the launch of online sportsbooks in Mississippi. Currently, the odds seem to favor mobile sports betting eventually coming to Mississippi.
Until Mississippi legalizes online sports betting, daily fantasy sports contests will continue serving as the closest alternative. All major daily fantasy sites offer their services to residents, and the Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC) oversees licensed operators to ensure they treat customers fairly.
The first Mississippi sportsbooks opened in August 2018, and many more have opened since. There are nearly 30 sportsbooks in operation, all licensed and regulated by the MGC or local tribal authorities.
Key things to know about Mississippi sports betting:
- Minimum age of 21 to participate
- Bettors must visit licensed sportsbooks and place wagers in person
- Mississippi does not have legal online sports betting
- Guests may only place mobile wagers when physically located on casino property
Mobile sports betting is available to a limited extent in Mississippi. Under current laws, retail sportsbooks may offer online sports betting to customers who are physically located on casino property.
The BetMGM Mississippi app launched in September 2021 and allows customers to place wagers from anywhere inside Beau Rivage Casino and Gold Strike Casino, excluding the hotel tower and parking lot. Bettors can download the BetMGM Sportsbook app from anywhere in Mississippi, but they can only place wagers when physically present on casino property.
BetMGM is now in the process of selling Gold Strike Tunica, but the sportsbook remains open for now. However, change is coming, and the BetMGM app will likely only be available to Mississippi bettors at Beau Rivage after the sale is completed in H1 2023.
State of Mississippi Sports Betting Timeline
2023: Lawmakers sign HB 606 into law. The bill mandates 13 state legislators to complete a “comprehensive analysis of all matters related to online sports betting” by Dec. 15, 2023.
In October, Mississippi’s Mobile Online Sports Betting Task Force met with people in the gaming industry to discuss a possible expansion of the online sports betting industry in the state. The group contained officials from casinos who oppose betting expansion.
2022: Lawmakers introduce four sports betting bills in the state Legislature. All four would have expanded online sports betting in the state with slight variations, but none made it through the committee.
2021: The state’s first online sportsbook launches when BetMGM debuts its app in September. The app, however, is limited to bets taking place at a licensed casino partnered with BetMGM.
2018: Within hours of the Supreme Court voting to repeal PASPA in May, the Mississippi Gaming Commission releases draft regulations to govern sports betting. After a 30-day review period, those regulations go into effect, and licensed gambling venues begin applying to offer sports betting.
Regulators spend the next few weeks preparing for the launch of sports betting. Beau Rivage and Gold Strike accepted the first legal sports wagers in Mississippi on Aug. 1, 2018. Sam’s Town, Horseshoe, and IP Casino quickly follow.
2017: Mississippi legalizes daily fantasy sports with HB 967.
However, Mississippi’s DFS law includes another statute with broad ramifications — language that effectively repeals the portion of state law prohibiting online sports betting. Gambling officials say they are ready to move forward with regulations. Federal law stands in the way, but the US Supreme Court removed that hurdle in May 2018.
2014: The Mississippi House Gaming Committee creates the Internet Gaming Taskforce to study its namesake topic. The task force subsequently added online sports betting to its study and submitted a report by the end of the year.
The comprehensive “fact-finding study” covers the regulated gambling industries in other states and hurdles specific to Mississippi.