Is Sports Betting Legal in Mississippi?

Is sports betting legal in Mississippi?

Yes, but only in person. Mississippi was quick off the mark: a 2017 law cleared the way for sports wagering at licensed casinos in anticipation of the Supreme Court's ruling, and the first legal bets were taken on 1 August 2018 at casinos in Biloxi and Tunica. The Mississippi Gaming Commission regulates the market, and the minimum age is 21.

What Mississippi does not allow is statewide mobile betting. You can bet using a casino's app only while you are on that casino's property. Once you step outside, the app will not accept wagers.

Where you can bet and which sportsbooks operate

Retail sportsbooks are found in casinos along the Gulf Coast in Biloxi and Gulfport, in Tunica near Memphis, in Vicksburg and Natchez along the river, and at tribal casinos operated by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Because there is no statewide mobile market, none of the three sportsbooks we review, BetMGM, bet365 and BetRivers, is available as an app you can use from home in Mississippi.

Residents who want legal mobile betting can use licensed apps while physically in Tennessee or Louisiana, both of which have full online markets.

The push for mobile betting

Lawmakers have debated mobile betting for several years. In the 2026 session the House passed mobile sports betting legislation with large majorities, but the bills did not advance in the Senate, where the gaming committee chair has argued that mobile wagering would not bring the jobs and tourism that casinos do. As things stand, any change would require a new bill in a future session.

Mississippi does not allow player prop bets on college athletes, though you can bet on college game lines at casino sportsbooks.

Opponents of statewide mobile wagering also point to the state's success as a casino destination: sports betting has drawn visitors from Alabama, Georgia and Texas, where it remains illegal, and casino operators along the coast and in Tunica argue that mobile betting would reduce foot traffic. Supporters respond that Mississippians are already betting through unregulated offshore apps and that the state is missing out on tax revenue.

Egg Bowl Saturdays and responsible play

With no major professional team, Mississippi's sporting focus is on Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Southern Miss, with the Egg Bowl rivalry dominating late November. Many residents also follow the Saints and the Memphis Grizzlies.

Casinos offer self-exclusion and responsible gambling resources, and confidential help is available around the clock at 1-800-GAMBLER. Winnings are taxable at state and federal level, and casinos withhold state tax on many payouts.