Sports Betting in Mississippi 2025

Is Sports Betting Legal in Mississippi?

Mississippi was one of the first states to legalize sports betting in the United States. The state passed sports wagering before the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

However, it’s important to note that there is no mobile betting allowed in the state. Throughout the legal American sports betting industry, the majority of wagers are made through mobile sportsbooks. Since Mississippi does not give people the option to utilize widespread internet betting, it has caused the industry to suffer.

Offshore sportsbooks are still prevalent in Mississippi because there is no online betting. Offshore sportsbooks accept wagers outside of the United States, which has led to an abundance of Mississippi mobile betting apps. They are unregulated and often illegal in numerous jurisdictions, but this has not prevented people from utilizing these platforms.

Top 5 Mississippi Online Betting Sites

Mississippi residents take their sports seriously, from the SEC powerhouses like Ole Miss and Mississippi State to deep NFL loyalties. But while sports betting has been legal in the state since 2018, Mississippi law only allows in-person mobile betting at licensed casinos. That means there’s no statewide mobile access, and for most bettors, the experience is far from ideal.

That’s why many Mississippi players turn to offshore sportsbooks. They’re fully accessible online, offer better odds, more betting markets, and let you bet from anywhere, not just inside a casino.

Here are the top five sportsbooks we recommend for Mississippi bettors:

Bovada

Bovada remains the most popular sportsbook among Mississippi bettors, even years after local legalization. With a massive userbase, clean interface, and reliable crypto support, it’s a go-to option for serious and casual players alike.

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BetOnline

BetOnline consistently posts odds early — often before any U.S. competitor. It’s ideal for value hunters and sharp bettors who want the best available lines.

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SportsBetting.ag

A favorite for long-term value, SportsBetting.ag offers not just a strong welcome bonus but a 25% lifetime reload bonus on every qualifying deposit.

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MyBookie

Perfect for Bitcoin bettors, MyBookie lets you claim the welcome bonus up to three times if you deposit with Bitcoin — a huge plus for crypto-savvy users.

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XBet

XBet’s mobile-optimized site makes it effortless to bet on the go. There’s no need to download an app — just add a shortcut to your homescreen and you’re ready.

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Legal Sportsbooks in Mississippi

Sports betting has been legal in Mississippi since 2018, but with one big limitation: online betting is only allowed when you’re physically on-site at a licensed casino. That means there are no statewide mobile sportsbooks available. As a result, the sportsbooks we recommend — licensed offshore — remain the best and most convenient way to bet online in Mississippi.

Mississippi Quick Facts

Here’s a quick snapshot of everything you need to know about sports betting in Mississippi. Since legalizing it in 2018, the state has embraced in-person betting at licensed casinos — but statewide mobile betting is still not allowed. From age restrictions to where and how you can place a wager, this overview highlights the key facts Mississippi bettors should know.

Mississippi’s Betting Bottleneck – Legal, But Stuck in the Past

Mississippi was an early adopter of legal sports betting, launching in 2018. But while other states rolled out full mobile betting, Mississippi stuck to a limited model: you can only bet online while physically inside a licensed casino. For everyday users, that restriction means legal betting is still tethered to the old in-person experience — and far from convenient.

The Offshore Advantage for Mississippi Players

Because Mississippi lacks true statewide mobile access, more and more bettors are turning to offshore sportsbooks. These platforms aren’t just accessible from anywhere — they also offer wider betting markets, more flexible payment methods, and faster withdrawals. In a state where mobile freedom is restricted, offshore books are unlocking the full betting experience.

Why Offshore Sportsbooks Outperform Mississippi’s Options

Here’s what Mississippi bettors get with the offshore sportsbooks we recommend:

• Bet Anywhere, Anytime – No need to be inside a casino. Bet from home, work, or on the go — no geolocation restrictions.
• Broader Markets – From political events to in-state college games, offshore sportsbooks offer action on markets legal sportsbooks avoid.
• Bigger Bonuses & Better Odds – Offshore platforms often outshine Mississippi’s legal books in value thanks to lower operational costs.
• No Clunky Registration – Skip the in-person sign-up or ID verification steps — offshore sites make onboarding fast and simple.
• Crypto-Friendly Options – Deposit with Bitcoin or Ethereum and cash out the same day, often with higher limits and zero banking delays.

Where Mississippi’s Legal Sportsbooks Fall Short

Even though betting is legal, Mississippi’s system still includes outdated and inconvenient restrictions:

• No Statewide Mobile Betting – You must be physically present at a casino to bet online.
• Limited Wagering Options – In-state college betting, political outcomes, and niche markets are often off-limits.
• No Remote Registration – You can’t create or fund an online account from home — everything runs through in-person casino systems.
• Fewer Payment Options – Crypto and modern e-wallets are typically unsupported, slowing down withdrawals and limiting flexibility.

Who Can Bet Legally in Mississippi?

If you’re betting through a licensed Mississippi casino, these are the rules:

• Minimum Age: 21 years old
• Location Requirement: You must be inside a licensed Mississippi casino for online wagers
• Residency: You don’t need to live in the state — tourists can bet while visiting
• Prohibited Individuals: Athletes, coaches, referees, and those on exclusion lists cannot participate

Final Take: Offshore Sportsbooks = Real Betting Freedom

Mississippi got a head start in legalizing sports betting, but its casino-based mobile model is holding bettors back. Offshore sportsbooks fill that gap by offering full mobile access, faster payouts, and more ways to play — all without forcing you to step inside a casino. For true convenience and better value, they remain the top choice for serious Mississippi bettors.

Mississippi Sports Betting – Recent Updates

• February 8, 2024 — The sports betting bill HB 774 advanced from the House to the Senate with a 97-14 vote.
• February 1, 2024 — Rep. Casey Eure introduced sports betting bill HB 774 on January 29 and advanced it out of the House Gaming Committee the following day.
• January 16, 2024 — Mississippi Rep. Casey Eure reportedly plans to introduce sports betting legislation during the 2024 session. The legislative session began on January 2.
• December 5, 2023 — While Mississippi lawmakers work on a sports betting report for the legislature, land-based casinos in the state are the biggest opponents to legalization.
• December 4, 2023 — DraftKings Sportsbook is opening a retail location at the Golden Nugget Casino in Biloxi. The location is slated to open in January 2024 and will contain 17 sports betting kiosks and five betting windows.

Retail Betting in Mississippi

Retail betting is sometimes preferred to mobile gambling because of its social aspect. Although, many people want to bet from their homes most of the time. This is a significant reason why offshore betting has continued in MS.

There have been discussions in the legislature to include online gambling in Mississippi sports betting. None of the conversations have gained any traction, but there is hope in the future that mobile sports betting will be authorized.

Mississippi was a frontrunner for legal sports betting, but the state will not be fully immersed in the industry until mobile gambling goes into effect. Mississippi’s sports betting history goes back to 2014 when the House Gaming Committee created the Internet Gaming Taskforce.

Ideas were circulating amongst the legislature regarding sports betting. Following the 2014 legislative session, sports betting was added to the docket for future discussions. However, betting was still illegal in 46 states because of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA).

PASPA was signed in 1992, and a portion of it removed sports betting in most of the country. States like Nevada were grandfathered into the bill, but PASPA left 46 states without wagering options.

Legal Outlook of Sports Betting in Mississippi

It appeared that sports betting would be legalized in the United States beginning in the second decade of 2000. States thought it was unfair that sports betting was illegal, but Nevada had a monopoly over the industry.

New Jersey headlined the fight through the American legal system. It was unknown when sports wagering would be legalized, but it became evident that the country was moving in this direction.

Mississippi did not want to waste any time. Therefore, the legislature continued to discuss sports wagering before it was allowed on the federal level. In 2017, Mississippi legalized daily fantasy sports betting through H 697.

This bill was titled the Fantasy Contest Act, and it removed provisions in the 1972 Gaming Control Act. The language of the 1972 bill included, “No wagering shall be allowed on the outcome of any athletic event, nor on any matter to be determined during an athletic event, which does not take place on the premises.”

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How the Fantasy Contest Act Changed Everything

The Fantasy Contest Act overturned this portion of the bill. By removing this line, the stage was set for sports betting in Mississippi. One year later, sports betting became a reality in Mississippi.

The Fantasy Contest Act was the bill that regulated sports betting. There was never a formal bill after PASPA that legalized sports betting in the state. PASPA was repealed in the summer of 2018.

In the hours after the decision, the Mississippi Gaming Commission released a draft of sports betting regulations in the state. The rules were reviewed for 30 days before the final draft was released, and licensed gaming operators were able to undergo the application process.

BetMGM was the first operator to go live in the state in a retail format. Many other sportsbooks have entered the state, including William Hill, IGT, Foundation Gaming, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock, BetAmerica, Caesars, MBC, FanDuel, and DraftKings.

The only mobile betting that’s allowed in the state must occur on casino grounds. The operators in the state are some of the most respected in the iGaming industry. If MS legalized online gambling, the revenue would soar in the state.

The latest mobile sports betting bill that showed promised was introduced in January of 2020. Representative Cedric Burnett sponsored HB 172, which would have allowed all of Mississippi’s casinos to adapt one mobile betting skin.

MS was only going to tax online betting revenue by 6%. This rate would have been amongst the lowest tax percentages in the nation. Sportsbooks would have given a lot of money to gain licensure with a 6% tax rate.

Nevertheless, gambling in Mississippi has come a long way since the first wager in the state was accepted on August 1, 2018. The Mississippi Gaming Commission is the governing body over sports wagering in the state. To place a wager in the state, you must be 21 years of age.

Five Reasons to Bet on Sports in Mississippi

There are many reasons to bet on sports in Mississippi. The state has mastered retail wagering, so you will have a superior experience in the state. Here are the top five reasons to bet on sports in Mississippi.

Great Bonuses

Sportsbooks still offer welcome bonuses and betting promotions even though widespread online wagering is not present in the state. The sportsbooks like DraftKings and FanDuel offer extensive rewards to new players in Mississippi.

These two sportsbooks are the best in the state. Although, there are tons of great sportsbooks in MS with massive bonuses. You will earn numerous free bets if you play enough in Mississippi on a specific sportsbook.

BetUS is also famous for its generous welcome offers. Bovada, MyBookie and GTBets, among others, offer year-round promotions for new and existing customers.

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No Online Issues

Mobile sports betting and technical issues are common. You will not have this issue in Mississippi because all wagers must occur in a retail format. If your phone quits in the middle of a mobile bet, a sportsbook cannot solve the issue.

If you place a bet at a retail sportsbook in Mississippi, you will not have to worry about technical issues. The sportsbook and casino staff will be present to handle all issues.

Retail Sportsbooks

It can be inconvenient to travel to a retail sportsbook to place a wager. However, it can also make for a phenomenal betting experience. Some of the sportsbooks in Mississippi provide a first-class wagering experience.

These locations include restaurants, bars, luxury seating, and tons of televisions so you can watch every game at once. This viewing experience is not replicable at home.

The camaraderie of betting with fellow gamblers is terrific. There are nights when you just want to place a wager on your own. However, do not look past retail betting because it can be exhilarating depending on the sportsbook.

Fast Payouts

You are not going to find quicker payouts than retail sports betting in Mississippi. When you place online wagers, there is a transaction period which delays you receiving your money. It can take three to five days, depending on the sportsbook, to receive your winnings.

In Mississippi, payouts are instant because you are placing them in person. It’s the same process for payouts as winning at the casino. All you must do is take your winning slip to the cashier, and they will give you your payout.

If you want to place a wager in the morning for a night game and watch at your home, the casino can send you your winnings. This process will be delayed, but there are many ways to receive a quick payout for Mississippi sports wagering.

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Customer Support

The casinos in Mississippi are great at handling customer service problems. Casinos would not be in business if they were not sensational at dealing with their players. This mentality has transferred to retail sportsbooks.

The casino staff is always willing to help with customer service inside sportsbooks. It’s unlikely that you will have an issue, but if you do, it will be solved.

List of Casinos in Mississippi

• Ameristar Casino
• Bally’s Vicksburg
• Bayou Caddy’s Jubilee Casino
• Beau Rivage Biloxi
• Bok Homa Casino
• Boomtown Biloxi
• Casino Magic Biloxi
• Copa Casino
• 1st Jackpot Casino
• Fitzgeralds Casino
• Gold Strike Casino Resort
• Golden Moon Casino
• Golden Nugget Biloxi
• Grand Station Casino
• Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
• Harlow’s Casino
• Harrah’s Casino Tunica
• Harrah’s Gulf Coast
• Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast
• Hollywood Casino Tunica
• Horseshoe Casino Tunica
• IP Casino Resort Spa
• Island View Casino
• Isle of Capri Casino Hotel Lula
• Isle of Capri Casino Hotel
• Magnolia Bluffs Casino
• Margaritaville Casino and Restaurant
• Palace Casino Biloxi
• President Casino Broadwater Resort
• Resorts Casino Tunica Tunica Resorts
• Riverwalk Casino and Hotel
• Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall
• Scarlet Pearl Casino
• Silver Slipper Casino
• Silver Star Casino
• Treasure Bay Casino
• Trop Casino Greenville
• Tunica Roadhouse Casino & Hotel
• Sheraton Casino and Hotel Tunica
• WaterView Casino & Hotel

Mississippi Sports Betting Timeline

2023

Mississippi Progresses in Sports Betting

2018

Mississippi Begins Licensing Sportsbooks

Mere hours after the Supreme Court made it possible, Mississippi legalized sports betting. August 1, 2018 saw the opening of the first sportsbooks licensed by Mississippi.

2017

Mississippi sets the floor for sports betting

With barely a peep, Mississippi must have seen the writing on the wall. they quietly removed the state’s prohibition on regulating sports betting. This was done even before federal law would allow them to open up local sportsbooks.

Responsible Gaming in Mississippi

Mississippi addresses gambling addiction through education, intervention, and self-exclusion programs:

• Mississippi Council on Problem and Compulsive Gambling (MCPCG): The state affiliate of the National Council on Problem Gambling, MCPCG offers crisis intervention, education, and referrals to help those struggling with gambling addiction.
• Mississippi Gaming Commission: Oversees a self-exclusion program enabling individuals to voluntarily ban themselves from all Mississippi casinos, providing an additional layer of support for responsible gambling.

These resources ensure that Mississippians have access to the help and tools they need to manage or overcome gambling-related challenges.

Trent Reinsmith

Trent is a professional sports journalist specializing in UFC, MMA, and esports coverage. His work has been featured in prestigious publications such as USA Today Sports, Vice, Bloody Elbow, Fight! Magazine, UFC 360, and Narratively. Trent's connection to MMA dates back to the early days when he and his friends pooled their resources to purchase the pay-per-...

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