Mississippi was actually one of the first states to launch legal sports betting, but there hasn’t been much growth in this market since the initial launch. Even though both forms of wagering are legal in Mississippi, nearly all of the sports bets have been placed in-person.
There are some strange rules in place in Mississippi that don’t lend well to online wagering. A couple of companies do offer online sports betting in the state, but it’s not like most other markets in the United States.
Online sports betting handle in the U.S. is now close to $250 billion in total wagers, while the total betting handle since 2018 is over that number. There has been massive growth in this industry since the federal ban was lifted, and Mississippi was a big part of getting things rolling.
Mississippi is trying to get some new rules in place to improve the overall numbers in the market, but there will have to be major changes in order to keep up with other states.
Historical Background of Betting in Mississippi
Mississippi is a state with a pretty big gambling culture, especially when it comes to casino gambling. Since there were so many casinos already in the state, it wasn’t surprising that Mississippi moved to legalize sports betting so quickly.
Back in 2014, a committee was chosen to study legal online sports betting with the hopes of eventually passing a new law. A 2017 bill officially legalized the DFS industry in the state, which ultimately set the stage for legal sports betting just one year later.
Since the sports betting launch back in 2018, Mississippi has been looking to make changes to its sports betting law, but none appear to be imminent. If the state wants to put up some big numbers in this industry, then there will be some changes needed.
Mississippi Betting Legalization Details
Technically, sports betting was legalized in the state of Mississippi back in 2017, but that wasn’t an option to offer this industry at that time. HB 967 was passed that year as a DFS bill, but the legalization of sports betting was also included.
After the US Supreme Court voted to repeal PASPA in May 2018, the Mississippi Gaming Commission got to work in order to try to get sports betting up and running. Sports betting regulations were released to the public in June, and the public then had 30 days to submit official comments on them.
The first official sports bets were placed in the state on August 1, 2018, and it wasn’t long before a number of retail sportsbooks were able to open up. The first online sportsbook in Mississippi didn’t come until 2021, when BetMGM Sportsbook started to accept wagers through its mobile app.
Where to Bet in Mississippi
Technically, both online and retail wagering are available in the state of Mississippi, but that’s not really the case. There are two sportsbook apps that can be downloaded in Mississippi, but wagering is still restricted to betting on the property of casinos.
The two online sportsbook apps in Mississippi are:
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- Pearl River Sports
Those two sports betting apps can be downloaded by anyone inside of the state, but they will only work on the property of the casinos associated with those sportsbooks. That essentially means that all Mississippi sports betting is done in person.
Mississippi does have close to 30 retail sportsbooks available in the state, and that gives bettors plenty of options. Here are the locations or casinos in which Mississippi sports betting is currently being offered:
- 1st Jackpot Casino
- Ameristar Casino
- Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
- Bok Homa Casino
- Boomtown Casino
- Fitz Casino
- Gold Strike Casino & Resort
- Golden Moon Hotel & Casino
- Golden Nugget
- Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
- Harlow’s Casino Resort
- Harrah’s Gulf Coast Casino
- Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast
- Hollywood Casino Tunica
- Horse Casino & Hotel
- IP Casino Resort
- Island View Casino Resort
- Isle of Capri Casino & Resort
- Lady Luck Casino
- Magnolia Bluffs Casino
- Palace Casino Resort
- Riverwalk Casino & Hotel
- Sam’s Town Casino
- Scarlett Pearl Casino & Hotel
- Silver Slipper Casino
- Silver Star Casino
- Treasure Bay Casino & Hotel
- Trop Casino Greenville
- WaterView Casino & Hotel
Some of these casinos are run by tribal groups that are in the state, but those tend to be on the smaller side of things. Most of the casinos in the state do have a sports betting partner that comes with plenty of experience in the industry.
Key Regulations and Rules
Since Mississippi legalized sports betting well before many other states in this industry, the state lawmakers didn’t really get any guidance when creating laws. The sports betting laws in Mississippi are still pretty solid despite the huge limit on in-state wagering.
The legal sports betting age in Mississippi is set at 21 years of age, and anyone in the state is able to place a wager. There are no betting limits set in terms of money, but each sportsbook is eligible to create its own rules.
Sportsbooks in Mississippi are allowed to offer betting on a wide range of professional and collegiate events, including those that feature teams from the state. The state has not yet legalized betting on esports, and that is something that is offered in other markets.
Popular Sports and Events to Bet On in Mississippi
Mississippi is one of a handful of states with legal sports betting despite not having any professional sports teams in the state. That is notable, and it’s another reason that this market just can’t compete with some others.
Even though there aren’t any professional sports teams in the state, there are still plenty of teams close enough to attract a number of fans. Football tends to be the most popular sport to wager on, and it’s the New Orleans Saints that are popular in Mississippi.
Basketball is another sport that usually has people flocking to the sportsbooks, and the New Orleans Pelicans are close enough to have a big following in Mississippi. You could also throw in the Memphis Grizzlies and Tennessee Titans in the mix, as those two teams have a solid fanbase in the state as well.
The Nashville Predators are another team that has a good following with sports fans in Mississippi, even though hockey betting isn’t always popular. Mississippi has created a rule to give sportsbooks more betting options to offer.
Betting on collegiate sporting events is available in Mississippi, and that includes betting on in-state college teams. The Ole Miss Rebels and the Mississippi State Bulldogs are two popular teams in the state, especially during football season.
Since Mississippi is right in the heart of SEC country, betting on the football games in that league will also keep the bettors in the state busy.
Tips for First-time Bettors in Mississippi
There are many things to know and understand when you first get involved with sports betting, and it can seem overwhelming at times. It is important to start off extremely slow when betting on sports, as it will take you some time to figure things out.
Before you start to make a ton of bets, you need to understand the different betting options that are going to be available to you. Each betting option is going to offer a unique chance to win some money, and you want to give yourself the best opportunity.
It is also smart to follow or find someone willing to provide free betting picks or tips, especially at the beginning. Getting help isn’t a sign that you don’t know anything about sports, and it can reduce the amount of research that you have to do.
You also need to be sure to know how much money you can comfortably spend when betting on sports and know how to stop when getting to that number. You should only be using a small amount of money to bet on sports, especially at the beginning.
The Future of Sports Betting in Mississippi
There was a bill introduced earlier in 2023 that could have a huge impact on the future of sports betting in Mississippi. There is a group in place that is currently studying the impact of online sports betting in the state, and that could lead to additional online sportsbooks.
There is nothing that is guaranteed in the state of Mississippi, but a new law is really the only way that this market will show some growth. Sports bettors throughout the United States have shown that they prefer making wagers at online sportsbooks.
The overall sports betting numbers in Mississippi have been better of late, but this market just can’t be competitive without more online sports betting. For those in Mississippi who are hoping to see more online sportsbooks, they should be keeping a close eye on the results of the study.
Conclusion
Mississippi has close to 30 different sports betting options available, although most of those come in the form of retail sports betting. That does mean that some traveling is required to place bets, but the options are at least there.
This is a market that will continue to grow in the future, but it is never going to be one of the biggest markets in the country.
