Is Sports Betting Legal in Mississippi? Everything You Need to Know

Date: 26.06.2025

Legal Sports Betting Guide

In Mississippi, sports betting is legal as of June 2025, but it’s a casino-only affair, rooted in House Bill 774, signed in June 2018. Twenty-eight casinos, from Hard Rock Biloxi to Gold Strike Tunica, offer retail betting and on-site mobile apps, regulated by the Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC). Unlike states with statewide online betting, Mississippi confines wagers to casino grounds, verified by geolocation.

Mississippi’s sports betting scene pulses within its 28 casinos, where fans wager on everything from NFL to Ole Miss football. Legalized in 2018 after the Murphy v. NCAA ruling, House Bill 774 restricts betting to casino premises, with no statewide mobile wagering.

The MGC oversees a market that generated $452.4 million in 2024, with $42.5 million in January 2025 alone, fueling $4.77 million in taxes.

In-state college betting is allowed, but individual player props are off-limits. Offshore sites lure some with broader markets, but legal sportsbooks offer safety and immersive experiences.

The Legalization Story of Betting in Mississippi

Mississippi’s path to legal sports betting was swift and strategic. The 2018 Supreme Court ruling in Murphy v. NCAA overturned PASPA, freeing states to regulate wagering.

Mississippi, with its robust casino industry, was ready. In 2017, the state quietly removed sports betting bans from its Gaming Control Act, paving the way for House Bill 774.

Signed by Governor Phil Bryant on June 22, 2018, it legalized betting at licensed casinos without new legislation. On August 1, 2018, Beau Rivage and Gold Strike accepted Mississippi’s first legal bets, making it the third state post-PASPA to launch, behind Delaware and New Jersey.

Efforts to expand to statewide mobile betting faltered. Bills in 2021 (HB 1207, SB 2783), 2024 (HB 271, HB 365), and 2025 (SB 2520) failed due to casino operators’ concerns about retail revenue losses.

Over 8.7 million attempts to access legal online sportsbooks from Mississippi highlight demand, but the casino-centric model persists, leveraging Gulf Coast and Tunica tourism.

Rules of the Game: Casino-Only Regulations

House Bill 774 and the MGC enforce a tight framework:

Age and Location: Bettors must be 21+ and on casino grounds, verified by geofencing (e.g., BetMGM’s app excludes parking lots).
Taxation: A 12% tax (8% state, 4% local) on gross gaming revenue (GGR) yielded $4.77 million in 2024, supporting infrastructure, education, and tourism.
College Betting: In-state teams (e.g., Ole Miss, Mississippi State) are bettable, but college player prop bets are banned; high school sports and politics are also prohibited.
Licensing: No extra fees for casinos’ existing permits; on-site apps (BetMGM, Caesars, Pearl River Sports) are tied to casino licenses.
Federal Oversight: The 1961 Wire Act and 2006 UIGEA deter offshore betting, with MGC issuing cease-and-desist orders to sites like Bovada in 2024–2025.

The MGC ensures compliance with audits, bans on credit card deposits, and responsible gambling mandates, creating a controlled betting environment.

Recent Developments in Mississippi Sports Betting

[April 2, 2025]: Mississippi’s Online Sports Betting Hopes Fade for 2025

[April 1, 2025]: Mississippi Senate Pushes Sweepstakes Ban with SB 2510

[March 14, 2025]: Texas and Mississippi State Self-Report NCAA Betting Violations

Mississippi’s Betting Hotspots: Top Casino Sportsbooks

Mississippi’s 28 casinos are the backbone of its betting market, offering retail sportsbooks and on-site mobile apps:

Beau Rivage Resort & Casino (Biloxi): Features BetMGM’s sportsbook and app, with a high-energy lounge (Beau Rivage).
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi: Partners with Bet365 for retail and mobile betting (Hard Rock Biloxi).
IP Casino Resort Spa (Biloxi): Offers FanDuel’s sportsbook, with in-play and game prop bets (IP Casino).
Gold Strike Casino Resort (Tunica): BetMGM-powered, one of the first to launch in 2018 (Gold Strike).
Horseshoe Tunica & Harrah’s Gulf Coast: Both use Caesars Sportsbook, with on-site apps allowing registration statewide (Caesars).
Scarlet Pearl (D’Iberville): Features DraftKings’ sportsbook (Scarlet Pearl).
Other Venues: Include Bok Homa and Golden Moon (Pearl River Sports app), Golden Nugget, and Silver Slipper, among others.

Retail sportsbooks offer HD screens, betting kiosks, and lounges, while on-site apps require geofenced casino presence. Promotions like Caesars’ $50 referral bonuses drive engagement. Unlike other states, Mississippi has no standalone DFS platforms for betting, keeping wagering casino-focused.

Betting Options: From Egg Bowl to NFL

Mississippi’s casinos offer diverse betting options:

Spreads
Moneylines
Totals (over/under)
Parlays
Prop bets (excluding college player props)
Futures
Live betting

Bettors wager on NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, and college sports, with heavy action on in-state teams like Ole Miss Rebels and Mississippi State Bulldogs, especially during the Egg Bowl.

High school sports, politics, and entertainment awards are banned. Esports betting is limited, pending MGC approval. The casino-only model, with geofencing, ensures compliance, creating a social betting atmosphere with 92% of bets placed in-person or via on-site apps in 2024.

Casinos-Driven Growth

Mississippi’s betting market fuels its economy. The $452.4 million 2024 handle ($42.5 million in January 2025) generated $43.34 million in GGR and $4.77 million in taxes (12% rate: 8% state, 4% local). In Q1 2025, GGR was $8.29 million, with $911,792 in taxes. Funds support:

State Budget (8%): Infrastructure, education, Emergency Road and Bridge Repair Fund.
Local Communities (4%): Biloxi, Tunica services.

The gaming industry sustains 37,277 jobs, with $1.6 billion in wages. Casinos like Beau Rivage drive tourism, drawing bettors from Alabama and Tennessee, boosting restaurants and hotels.

Compared to Louisiana’s $208 million January handle, Mississippi’s smaller but stable market thrives on its casino model, contributing $2.8 billion to the economy in 2023.

Offshore Betting: A Risky Bet

Some Mississippians use offshore sites like Bovada for convenience or college player props, but risks abound:

Legal Risks: Violate Mississippi law, Wire Act, and UIGEA, risking prosecution and fund forfeiture.
Payment Issues: Delayed or withheld winnings with no recourse.
Data Security: No U.S. protections, increasing fraud risks.
Unfair Odds: Unaudited odds may disadvantage bettors.
No Safeguards: Lack of responsible gambling tools heightens addiction risks.

The MGC’s 2024–2025 cease-and-desist orders (e.g., Bovada, MyBookie) and warnings emphasize legal sportsbooks’ audited odds and protections. Over 1.7 million attempts to access out-of-state legal sportsbooks show demand, but offshore sites remain unsafe.

Responsible Gambling: Betting Safely in Mississippi

The MGC mandates responsible gambling tools:

Self-Exclusion: Bans bettors from all casinos for 5+ years or permanently, with trespassing penalties.
Deposit Limits: Caps on betting funds at sportsbooks and apps.
Support Resources: Casinos display 1-800-GAMBLER and Mississippi Council on Problem Gambling (1-888-777-9696) info.

Practical tips:

Budget Wisely: Bet 1–5% of disposable income (e.g., $10 from $200 monthly).
Avoid Chasing Losses: Don’t raise bets to recover losses.
Take Breaks: Pause every 30–60 minutes.
Understand Odds: Set realistic expectations.
Healthy Alternatives: Try sports, hobbies, or volunteering.

The NCPG estimates 2–3% of Americans face gambling issues. Mississippi’s Council handled 115,498 calls, aiding 15,360 people. In 2024, $200,000 funded treatment, though casino-based tools limit online accessibility.

Mississippi’s Betting Future: Casino Strength

Mississippi’s market, with a $42.5 million January 2025 handle, remains casino-driven. Failed bills (2021, 2024, 2025’s HB 1302) stalled statewide mobile betting, with Senate resistance and casino operator concerns citing retail impacts.

Nearly 8.7 million attempts to access online sportsbooks underscore demand, but change is unlikely before 2026. Esports betting may expand pending MGC approval.

In-state college betting, like the Egg Bowl, drives engagement, with no stricter rules expected. The 12% tax rate and potential AI-enhanced on-site apps (e.g., BetMGM) ensure stability, positioning Mississippi as a regional gaming leader.