Sports Betting Laws in Mississippi: 2024–2025 Guide

Quick Answer: Is Sports Betting Legal in Mississippi?

Yes. Mississippi has had legal sports betting since August 2018, making it one of the first states to launch after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in May 2018. Legal authority stems from the Mississippi Gaming Control Act and regulations adopted by the Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC).

The catch: you must be physically present inside a licensed casino to place a bet. Statewide mobile and online sports betting is not legal. You cannot use a sports betting app from anywhere outside a casino floor. Consult the MGC's public licensee database for the current count of licensed casinos across the Gulf Coast and Tunica regions that accept sports wagers.

The operative framework for licensed casino sports wagering sits within the Gaming Control Act and MGC regulations. Three separate mobile betting bills were introduced in the 2026 Mississippi legislative session. All three died in committee without a floor vote. The in-person-only rule is not changing in the near term.

Mississippi Sports Betting Law: Statutes and Regulatory Framework

Foundational Statute

The Mississippi Gaming Control Act is the legal foundation for all licensed gambling in the state, including sports wagering. The MGC derives its authority to license, regulate, and enforce gaming operations from this Act.

Sports wagering was authorized through amendments to the Gaming Control Act ahead of PASPA's anticipated repeal. Mississippi's legislature pre-positioned the state to launch quickly; the first legal sports bets were accepted at a Gulf Coast casino in August 2018.

Who Enforces the Rules

The Mississippi Gaming Commission is the sole regulatory authority. The MGC licenses operators, audits compliance, investigates violations, and can suspend or revoke a sports wagering endorsement. There is no separate sports betting regulator. For disputes with a sportsbook or to report a problem, the MGC is the contact.

MGC Sports Wagering Rules

MGC regulations govern the specifics of sports wagering, including eligible sports, permitted bet types, integrity monitoring requirements, and prohibited wager categories. Consult MGC regulations for specific prohibitions, which typically include wagering on high school sports, youth and amateur sports below the collegiate level, and certain college athlete proposition bets.

The In-Person Requirement

The requirement that you be physically present on the casino floor or in a designated sportsbook area is established through MGC regulations and internal controls guidance. While the legislature could amend the Gaming Control Act to allow mobile wagering, the MGC could also modify its regulations. To date, neither has occurred, and legislative efforts to authorize mobile betting have failed.

Minimum Age

You must be 21 years old to place a sports wager in Mississippi. Consult MGC official guidance for confirmation of whether this is set by regulation or statute.

Licensing, Tax Rates, and Fees: What Casinos Pay

Who Can Get a License

Only existing licensed casino operators may offer sports wagering. There is no standalone sportsbook license in Mississippi. A casino must obtain a sports wagering endorsement on its existing gaming license. No new entrants can open a sportsbook-only operation.

Tax Rate

Consult the MGC's official guidance or annual revenue reports for the current state tax rate on sports betting gross gaming revenue. The MGC publishes revenue data on its official website.

Revenue distribution between the state general fund and local governments follows the structure established under the Gaming Control Act. Consult the MGC annual revenue report for the current allocation breakdown.

License Fees and Renewal

License fees and renewal requirements for the sports wagering endorsement vary and are set by MGC rule. Consult the MGC directly for current fee schedules.

Active Licensees and Locations

Consult the MGC's public licensee database for the current number of casinos holding active sports wagering endorsements. These are concentrated in two regions:

• Gulf Coast: Biloxi, Gulfport, Bay St. Louis
• North Mississippi: Tunica (the Tunica resort corridor)

Verify the current list at the MGC's public licensee database before making any operational or travel decisions.

Tax Rate Comparison: Mississippi vs. Neighboring States

The Tennessee tax structure is handle-based rather than revenue-based, which makes direct percentage comparisons misleading. Confirm current rates from each state's official regulatory body before drawing conclusions.

Permitted and Prohibited Bet Types in Mississippi

What You Can Bet On

Mississippi sportsbooks accept wagers on a broad range of professional and collegiate sports. Permitted sports and market types generally align with those active in US sports betting markets, including:

American Football:

• NCAAF (US College Football): Wagers on regular season games, conference championships, and bowl games.
• NCAAF Championship Winner: Futures bets on the overall US College Football National Champion.
• NFL Super Bowl Winner: Futures bets on the Super Bowl Champion for the upcoming season.
• UFL (United Football League): Wagers on games and futures for this professional spring football league.

Baseball:

• KBO (KBO League): Wagers on South Korean professional baseball.
• MiLB (Minor League Baseball): Wagers on various levels of Minor League Baseball.
• MLB (Major League Baseball): Wagers on regular season games, playoffs, and the World Series.
• MLB World Series Winner: Futures bets on the World Series Champion.
• NCAA Baseball (US College Baseball): Wagers on college baseball games and tournaments.
• NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball): Wagers on Japanese professional baseball.

Basketball:

• Basketball Euroleague: Wagers on Europe's premier professional basketball competition.
• NBA (US Basketball): Wagers on regular season games, playoffs, and the NBA Finals.
• NBA Championship Winner: Futures bets on the NBA Champion.
• WNBA (US Basketball): Wagers on the Women's National Basketball Association.

Other professional sports like golf, tennis, MMA, boxing, and soccer are also typically available, subject to MGC approval. Common market types include moneylines, point spreads, totals (over/under), parlays, and futures. Availability varies by casino and sportsbook operator.

What You Cannot Bet On

Consult MGC regulations for specific prohibitions, which typically include:

• High school sports
• Youth and amateur sports below the collegiate level
• Proposition bets on individual college athlete performance
• Exchange betting or peer-to-peer wagering platforms

Integrity Monitoring

MGC regulations and internal controls typically require casinos to report suspicious wagering activity to the MGC and relevant sports governing bodies. Consult MGC guidance for specific requirements.

What Changed Recently: 2026 Mobile Betting Bills Failed

Three bills to legalize mobile and online sports betting were introduced in the 2026 Mississippi legislative session. All three died in committee with no floor votes recorded.

The Bills

HB 4074 — Mississippi Mobile Sports Wagering Act Introduced in the 2026 session. Referred to committees covering Finance, Gaming, and Ways and Means. Died in committee.