Mississippi (MS)

Following repealing the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), Mississippi became one of the US states with legal sports betting. Currently, the Magnolia state has more than two dozen sportsbooks operating at various locations within its borders.

However, no Mississippi sports betting apps are operating statewide, meaning that the MS residents have to appear in the location-based casinos to place their wagers physically. And if you must bet online, the state's gambling laws direct that you must be physically at the casino, and as such, you cannot place wagers at the casinos remotely.

Online Sports Betting in Mississippi

Undeniably, the Magnolia State was amongst the first-ever US states to hop into the world of online sports wagering. Even though this took place in 2018, the state altered its in-state sports wagering laws before that. This wise decision was made to allow for an easy sports betting roll-out process once the supreme court overturned the PASPA.

Following the repeal of the PASPA, Mississippi saw an increased number of applications for betting licenses. As a result, retail bookies started popping up across the Magnolia State. These bookmakers allowed residents to engage in in-person sports wagering easily and the best thing is that they are state-regulated. This means that players can enjoy sports betting with the law protecting them.

Soon afterward, residents witnessed the first batch of sites for online sports betting in MS. Names like BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, and Caesars came to the party as Mississippi enjoyed online betting for the first time.

However, while the state allows these brands to operate legally, remote betting is restricted. Crazy as it may seem, that is what the laws stipulate currently. This year, the case could be different in the wake of applications for state officials to relax this bizarre rule. This has sparked a lot of discussions, but we are yet to see if things will change soon.

Sports Betting Legislation in MS

Before 2017, if you asked whether sports betting in Mississippi was legal, the answer would have been a resounding no. Back then, the state’s wagering laws prohibited any form of sports betting. Anyone caught engaging in sports wagering risked a jail term, and sometimes hefty fines. However, the Magnolia state did away with this section of the law.

Afterward, the state allowed sportsbooks to start applying for betting licenses. In May 2018, the Supreme court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) and this act was the number one hurdle that stood in the way of sports betting legalization in Mississippi. As a result, the state permitted the launch of the first retail sports wagering bookie in August 2018.

Since then, MS bettors have always enjoyed in-person betting on their favorite sports without restrictions. The legalization has helped the state witness an increase in revenue. BetMGM, a subsidiary of MGM, was the first online bookmaker to launch in the Magnolia State. It was later joined by contenders such as Caesars and FanDuel.

Today, bettors can bet online just as they have always done with retail sportsbooks — in person.

Restrictions

Sports bettors in the state must be at least 21 years of age to place a legal wager. No matter how old a bettor is, they must follow the law that is specific to the state, which states the bettor must be in person at a licensed sportsbook to place a bet.

It doesn't matter if a customer is using a mobile app or wants to place a wager in person they must be present in the licensed sportsbook in order to place that bet.

Licensing and Taxes

In order for a sportsbook to get a license to operate in Mississippi, they must pay a licensing fee of $5,000. This price is extremely low compared to other states' fees.

Once a license is acquired, the sportsbook must pay an effective tax of 12% every month.

In-Person Sports Betting In Mississippi

Retail sportsbooks, and thus in-person sports betting, have been in existence in Mississippi ever since 2017. The legalization came at a time when states all over the country were anticipating a supreme court decision to do away with PASPA.

After the legalization, there was a need to come up with rules that will govern the sports betting industry in the state. Such included the legal age cap for interested bettors. As long as players are 21 years or older, they can legally bet on any sports available at casinos across the state. Every time players visit any of the two dozen retail casinos and sportsbooks, they will have to show proof of age.

Following the legalization of sports wagering in the state, the scope of gaming activities in bookies has expanded. Lovers of sports like the NFL, NBA, and NHL can now bet on their favorite teams, whenever they want to.

Sports Betting In Neighboring States

The process of legalization of statewide online sports wagering in MS does not seem like it will come to an end soon. So far, there are up to five bills in place which could help ease up the tension. However, they could all fail just like the ones that came before.

With that said, punters in the Magnolia state can still wager online using bookies in neighboring states. For instance, they can bet online through bookies in the state of Tennessee, which is located to the north of MS and boasts eight bookies licensed to operate online. Also, they can place their wagers in Louisiana - on the west side of the Mississippi River.

Notably, Louisiana legalized online sports betting in Jan 2022 and has so far issued licenses to several leading bookmakers. With these online bookies, the aforementioned states have benefited from online sports betting in terms of increased revenue.

How profitable has sports betting been in Mississippi?

Even with the state's specific gambling laws, the state of Mississippi has still accumulated over $2 billion dollars in sports betting handle since it was made legal. Here we'll take a look at the monthly numbers for handle, revenue, and tax income made by the state.

• October 2023:

  • Handle: $49.5m

  • Revenue: $7.34m

  • Tax Income: $881,341

• September 2023: Handle: $51.6m, Revenue: $8.14m, Tax Income: $977,283

• August 2023: Handle: $21.3m, Revenue: $2.69m, Tax Income: $322,949

• July 2023: Handle: $17.7m, Revenue: $2.46m, Tax Income: $295,641

• June 2023: Handle: $20.4m, Revenue: $1.84m, Tax Income: $221,841

• May 2023: Handle: $26.7m, Revenue: $3.18m, Tax Income: $381,714

• April 2023: Handle: $31.8m, Revenue: $4.34m, Tax Income: $521,657

• March 2023: Handle: $46.7m, Revenue: $4.95m, Tax Income: $594,380

• February 2023: Handle: $39.8m, Revenue: $3.14m, Tax Income: $377,224

• January 2023: Handle: $57.2m, Revenue: $5.1m, Tax Income: $614,086

2022

• December 2022: Handle: $74.3m, Revenue: $11.2m, Tax Income: $1.3m

• November 2022: Handle: $73.6m, Revenue: $5.08m, Tax Income: $610,510

• October 2022: Handle: $56.1m, Revenue: $7.6m, Tax Income: $922,462

• September 2022: Handle: $43.1m, Revenue: $8.7m, Tax Income: $1.05m

• August 2022: Handle: $21.2m, Revenue: $2.6m, Tax Income: $322,496

• July 2022: Handle: $18.2m, Revenue: $2.5m, Tax Income: $303,265

• June 2022: Handle: $25.09m, Revenue: $2.08m, Tax Income: $249,851

• May 2022: Handle: $29.2m, Revenue: $4m, Tax Income: $480,763

• April 2022: Handle: $35.5m, Revenue: $4.2m, Tax Income: $505,115

• March 2022: Handle: $47.8m, Revenue: $4.04m, Tax Income: $485,092

• February 2022: Handle: $40.8m, Revenue: $1.8m, Tax Income: $226,559

• January 2022: Handle: $66.5m, Revenue: $6.5m, Tax Income: $782,567

What is legal to bet on in Mississippi?

As it is currently, Mississippi allows you to wager on sporting activities for real money. This means you can use sports wagering to earn extra income. However, the state is evident in its commitment to curb problem gambling.

That said, punters are free to bet on all local and offshore markets. You can wager on NHL, NFL, NBA, MLB, and Collegiate gaming activities, and the player can also wager on other activities such as politics and TV programs using offshore bookies. The following is a detailed breakdown of the sports and leagues you can legally wager on in MS.

1. National Football League (NFL). Even though MS does not have a professional football team, you can still wager on teams from other states through the available bookies.

2. National Basketball League (NBA). Like the NFL, the state does not yet have a professional basketball team. However, you can still bet on NBA teams from other states.

3. Major League Baseball (MLB). In this betting market, you will find all the exciting baseball matches you have been yearning to wager on.

Gambling news and updates from Mississippi

• March 28, 2023: The rule that requires bettors to be on location to place a bet could be changing as Governor Tate Reeves has signed a bill to establish a task force that will look into state-wide online gambling.

• February 28, 2023: Mississippi sees a decline in handle and revenue in the month of January.

• February 2, 2023: The state of Mississippi, along with other states, has officially implemented cashless casino gaming.

• June 15, 2022: MGM Resorts International has sold its in-state casino, Gold Strike Tunica, to the Cherokee Nation.

How do mobile sportsbook apps work in Mississippi?

To a certain extent, online sports gambling is available in Mississippi. As it is today, retail bookmakers can only offer betting services to punters who are physically within the casino establishment. The same applies to MS betting apps. For example, the BetMGM sports betting app is easily downloadable, but you can only use it on the premises of a BetMGM partner casino.

Interestingly, most of the betting sites in MS have fully functional apps in neighboring states. However, because of the stringent gambling laws in Mississippi, they have not yet launched sports betting apps tailored for punters in the state. The largest hurdle to statewide gambling is the law that requires sportsbooks to adhere to geo-restriction terms.

As we hope for more MS sports wagering apps, BetMGM remains the only operator with an app in the state. Alternatively, you can use other operators to wager online through their official websites. But keep in mind, that this is only possible through a land-based partner casino.

These limitations have encouraged punters to opt for offshore sports wagering apps. And since these bookmakers are not located within the Magnolia state, the state’s betting rules do not apply to them. As state officials still deliberate on the laws surrounding mobile wagering, we can expect more MS sports betting apps in the future.

Getting started - Step-by-step

Before you can place your first-ever wager in Mississippi, you must consider the available retail options. Luckily, your research shouldn’t take long since statewide online betting is not a thing yet. You can work with this step-by-step guide:

1. Sign up. Some bookies will let you register before you visit their casino partner. However, such convenience is always negated by the law that requires you to visit the casino to place wagers.

2. Download the betting app you like. Head to the casino and download the app from there. The app is geo-restricted hence you will only be able to download and use it within the casino’s walls.

3. Fund your account. Different casinos have different methods of payment. It is advisable to find out more about the banking options supported before visiting the casino. Add some funds to your account to unlock bonuses.

4. Claim offered bonuses. After making your first deposit, most bookies will offer you various bonuses. Now is the perfect time to take advantage of such bonuses.

5. Place your bets. Shop around the betting app to see the bet types offered then place your wager.

Bonuses and MS sports betting offers

Bookmakers in Mississippi are known to offer a wide range of bonuses and promos. With that said, there are a couple of requirements that bettors must meet before they claim these offers. Always ensure you take a closer look at the laid terms and conditions before opting in for a promotion.

The most common types of bonuses in MS sports betting bookies include:

1. Risk-free bets: This is where a new user gets a refund in case they lose their first ever bet.

2. Deposit Match: In this best, a bookmaker decides to match up your initial deposit by a certain percentage.

3. No deposit bonus: these are the bonuses given once you decide to register with a bookie through the no deposit bonus option.

Payment methods for depositing

Mississippi sports betting sites offer various banking options to bettors across the state. Bookies such as FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars allow punters in the state to conveniently use the popular banking methods in the state. Such include bank transfers, PayPal, Mastercard, and Visa cards. What's more, all these banking options are secure, safe, and easy to use. Also, they are quite convenient since, with a less than a week turn-around time.

And since you will be betting in person, you can rest assured of your winnings as you walk out of the gaming room. But most importantly, make sure you fully understand the terms and conditions attached to each banking option.

Trusted Mississippi sports betting mobile apps in 2023

Notably, not all bookies in Mississippi are trustworthy. Our team of experts is always determined to only recommend the most reputable bookmakers in the state. We constantly analyze several things, including betting licenses, customer support quality, and payment methods. We do this to gauge the sportsbooks’ reliability and trustworthiness.

Having done that, here are some of the trusted Mississippi sports betting mobile apps. 

1. BetMGM. Recently, this bookie has hit several headlines in the Magnolia state for all the right reasons. It is the first bookie to launch a mobile application tailored for MS residents. It also operates in several other US states, covering a variety of sports and leagues.

2. DraftKings. This bookie is a favorite in the US because of its Daily Fantasy Sports. Although DraftKings has only been operational for a couple of years, it has established a niche for itself.

3. Caesars. This well-known US-based sportsbook is a subsidiary of one of the leading wagering companies worldwide. It is in partnership with many casinos in the United States, making it reliable for MS sports betting.