Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Mississippi?
If you’re asking “is online sports betting Mississippi legal right now?” the answer is complicated. Retail sportsbooks are fully legal, and you can place bets at casinos statewide. Online sports betting online exists, but only if you’re physically inside a casino using its app. That means you can’t legally bet from your couch in Jackson or your phone in Biloxi. Statewide mobile sports betting legal efforts are active, but bills keep stalling in the legislature. Here’s what you need to know about sports betting in the Magnolia State.
Online Sports Betting Mississippi: Current Status
Mississippi legalized retail sports betting in 2018, just months after the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban. Casinos across the state quickly opened in-person sportsbooks.
In 2021, apps like BetMGM launched—but with a major limitation. Online bets are only allowed inside the walls of a casino. Players can log in, but the app geofences activity to the casino property.
For now, full online sports betting legal statewide is still out of reach.
Read more: Looking for the ultimate guide to NFL betting this season? We've got you covered right here!
Why Is Sports Betting Legal Online So Limited?
The main reason is casino influence. Mississippi’s brick-and-mortar casinos fear that full mobile access would shift business away from their properties. To protect retail revenues, lawmakers designed the current system to keep online activity tied to casinos.
This keeps sports betting legal online very restrictive compared to other sports gambling legal states like Tennessee or Louisiana, where you can bet from anywhere inside state borders.
Online Sports Betting Apps in Mississippi
Currently, the only online sports betting apps in Mississippi are tied to casinos. BetMGM is one example, available at Beau Rivage in Biloxi and Gold Strike in Tunica.
Example: A bettor in Gulfport could walk into Beau Rivage, log into BetMGM on their phone, and place a parlay on the Saints covering the spread, Derrick Henry scoring a touchdown, and the game total going over. But the second they leave the casino, the app stops working.
This makes Mississippi unique in the online sports betting USA landscape—legal in theory, but limited in practice.
Online Sports Betting How To (Under Current Rules)
If you want to bet online in Mississippi, here’s how it works right now:
- Visit a licensed casino like Beau Rivage or Gold Strike.
- Connect to the casino Wi-Fi or geolocation network.
- Open the partner sportsbook app, such as BetMGM.
- Log in or create an account.
- Deposit funds via debit, PayPal, or cash at the cage.
- Place your wagers—NFL betting, NBA spreads, MLB totals, or parlays.
- Collect winnings either digitally or on-site.
It’s not as convenient as other states, but it’s the only way to legally use online sports betting apps in Mississippi today.
Legislative Push for Full Mobile Betting
Mississippi lawmakers know the current system is outdated. Bills like the Mobile Sports Wagering Act (HB 774) proposed allowing statewide online sports betting online through casino partnerships.
In 2024 and again in 2025, the state House passed versions of mobile sports betting bills with overwhelming support. However, they stalled in the Senate. Concerns over casino revenue loss and market control remain the biggest roadblocks.
The demand is clear, though. Millions of attempts by Mississippi residents to access out-of-state sportsbooks are blocked every year. Lawmakers estimate the state is losing $25–35 million annually in potential tax revenue.
Sports Gambling Legal States vs. Mississippi
Compared to its neighbors, Mississippi is behind.
- Louisiana: Statewide online betting launched in 2022 with multiple apps like DraftKings and FanDuel.
- Tennessee: Online-only model since 2020, with no retail casino requirement.
- Arkansas: Statewide mobile betting available through local operators.
Mississippi’s restriction to on-site apps makes it the most limited system in the region. Bettors often cross into Louisiana or Tennessee to place wagers on NFL betting and other sports.
What You Can Bet On in Mississippi
Even with restrictions, the betting menu in Mississippi is broad. Bettors can wager on:
- NFL betting, NBA, MLB, NHL, and international soccer.
- College sports, including SEC matchups like Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
- Futures, parlays, props, and live betting inside casino apps.
High school sports are off-limits, and the limited online system makes betting less convenient, but the variety of markets is similar to other sports gambling legal states.
Online Sports Betting Example: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State
Imagine Egg Bowl weekend. A bettor in Oxford drives to a nearby casino. They open BetMGM, place a bet on Ole Miss to win outright, add the over on total points, and parlay it with an anytime touchdown prop for Quinshon Judkins.
That parlay is legal—but only inside the casino. Step outside, and the app geofence cuts the action off.
The Future of Online Sports Betting Mississippi
The future likely includes full statewide mobile betting. Public demand is high, legislators are pushing, and the state is losing revenue every year it waits.
If a bill passes, Mississippi bettors will be able to download apps, register from home, and place bets anywhere inside state borders. That would bring Mississippi in line with most other sports gambling legal states and give fans real online sports betting legal access.
Until then, Mississippi remains stuck with a hybrid system—retail strong, mobile restricted.
Final Thoughts on Online Sports Betting Mississippi
Online sports betting Mississippi is legal, but only in casinos. Retail betting has been live since 2018, but true statewide mobile access hasn’t passed the finish line.
NFL betting, college football, and other markets are available, but only with workarounds that keep apps tied to casinos. As lawmakers push new bills, the future may bring full mobile betting to the Magnolia State.
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