Yes. The Magnolia State boasts legal daily fantasy sports (DFS), social casinos, and social poker sites.

These types of internet gambling may not be what you envision when thinking of the subject. Instead, you might first think about online casinos, poker sites, and Mississippi sportsbooks.

Nevertheless, DFS, sweepstakes sites, and social casinos/poker rooms constitute online gambling. They provide legitimate ways to enjoy gaming through a smartphone or computer.

Mississippi’s History with Online Gambling

Despite not featuring much legal online gambling, Mississippi is one of the most progressive states on the subject.

The House Gaming Committee developed an Internet Gaming Taskforce to study online gambling in 2014. The taskforce looked at what kind of revenue Mississippi online casinos, poker, and sports betting could generate.

After studying markets in other states, the Internet Gaming Taskforce concluded the following:

  • Online gaming revenue isn’t anywhere close to projections.
  • Due to being a rural state, Mississippi would face greater technology barriers in establishing an online market.
  • Gamblers would become frustrated if the technology wasn’t up to par.
  • Online sports betting was subject to a federal ban (until 2018).

Despite these grim findings, Mississippi moved forward with daily fantasy sports in 2017. The Fantasy Contest Act (H 967) makes DFS legal throughout the state.

DFS remains Mississippi’s only regulated form of internet gambling. The state has yet to take any serious action towards expanding the market.

When will Mississippi Legalize More Online Gambling?

The Magnolia State’s interest in internet gambling started in 2014. It became the first state in the Deep South to consider the matter.

Again, though, the Internet Gaming Taskforce didn’t form a favorable view of online gambling. After studying other markets, it determined that gaming wouldn’t be as lucrative for the state as advertised.

Mississippi isn’t interested in legalizing online casinos and poker sites right now. However, it has expressed plenty of interest in mobile sports betting.

After all, Mississippi already features retail sportsbooks. Sports wagering would be the most logical next step towards online gambling.

Politicians introduced the following bills to regulate online sports betting in 2020:

  • House Bill 172
  • House Bill 959
  • House Bill 941
  • Senate Bill 2613
  • Senate Bill 2614

None of this legislation made it past the Senate Gaming Committee. Betting interests within the state can’t come to a consensus on a suitable bill.

Of course, the interest in mobile sports gambling is still there. Retail bookmakers realize that they stand to make far more money if gamblers are allowed to bet through apps.

Therefore, we expect Mississippi to legalize sports betting in 2021 or 2022. Lawmakers will especially feel pressure to pass legislation now that neighboring Tennessee offers mobile betting.

Mississippi Online Betting

The Magnolia State moved quickly on retail betting. It repealed a section of its legal code that banned sports gambling in 2017.

Due to a federal ban (PASPA) in place, Mississippi couldn’t legalize sports wagering immediately. However, lawmakers approved betting in 2018 shortly after PASPA was struck down by the Supreme Court.

Mississippi now boasts one of the biggest retail betting markets in America. It currently features 23 casinos with sports wagering.

The state still doesn’t provide legal mobile betting, though. Despite six bills introduced from 2019 to 2020, politicians haven’t approved anything.

We believe that the Magnolia State will offer legal online betting very soon. However, we’re amazed that the Senate Gaming Committee has rejected so much legislation.

Mississippi Online Casinos

Mississippi doesn’t regulate internet gaming, either. Unlike in the case of mobile sports gambling, it doesn’t seem overly interested in online casinos.

It’s unknown when/if the state will legalize gaming sites. Luckily, Mississippians can enjoy legal social casinos.

A social gaming site doesn’t feature real-money play. Instead, it sees you play for coins/chips that can result in earning achievements and advancing levels.

Multiple land-based casinos feature MS social casinos, including:

  • Boomtown Biloxi (Penn National)
  • Harrah’s Gulf Coast (Caesars)
  • Hollywood Gulf Coast (Penn National)
  • Hollywood Tunica (Penn National)
  • Horseshoe Tunica (Caesars)
  • Isle of Capri Lula (Eldorado Resorts)
  • Lady Luck Vicksburg (Eldorado Resorts)
  • Riverwalk Casino Hotel (Churchill Downs)
  • Tunica Roadhouse (Caesars)

These gaming sites collectively offer a large variety of slots and table games. You can also look forward to national social gaming brands, including Zynga and Slotomania.

Mississippi Daily Fantasy Sports

The Magnolia State regulates DFS through the Fantasy Contest Act (H 967). Therefore, DFS giants like DraftKings and FanDuel can legally serve Mississippians.

Due to restrictions in the Gaming Control Act of 1972, the state couldn’t legalize DFS immediately. Instead, it needed to change the Control Act’s restriction against betting on “any athletic event.”

Politicians successfully did so and, in turn, paved the way for legal daily fantasy and sports betting.

Mississippi Poker Sites

Poker’s beginnings trace back to riverboats that traveled the Mississippi River in the mid-1800s. Many of those riverboats docked in the Magnolia State at some point.

Therefore, you’d think that Mississippi would be more receptive to online poker. Unfortunately, the state isn’t considering legalizing the game.

Backed by the Mississippi Gaming Commission, the first internet poker bill came about in 2012. This legislation, like others that would follow it, never gained traction in either House.

Mississippi may legalize internet poker in the distant future, though it’ll assuredly consider sports betting and online casinos beforehand.

Potential MS Online Gambling Providers

DraftKings and FanDuel are the only big-name gaming providers in the Magnolia State. They currently provide DFS to Mississippians.

If the state were to legalize sports betting or online casinos, DraftKings and FanDuel would be headliners once again. After all, they’re two of the leading online casino and betting brands in the US.

Other potential operators that would enter this market through internet sports betting and/or casinos include:

  • BetAmerica
  • BetMGM
  • BetRivers
  • Caesars
  • PointsBet
  • theScore
  • Unibet

Depositing at Mississippi Online Gambling Sites

If Mississippi legalizes online sports betting and/or poker, you’ll surely enjoy several deposit methods. The following banking options are available in other internet gambling markets:

  • ACH (e-check): You use your bank account and routing number to place deposits via e-check.
  • Cash: You visit a land-based casino or 7-Eleven (PayNearMe) and deposit with cash in person.
  • Credit card: Visa and Mastercard let you fund gambling accounts instantly.
  • E-wallet: Neteller, PayPal, and Skrill are available for deposits and withdrawals.
  • Prepaid card: Online gambling sites can issue a branded prepaid card to customers.

You can use most of these methods for cashing out, too. Typically, though, you need to use the same banking option for deposits and withdrawals.

If you fund an account with an e-check, for example, you can only withdraw money the same way.

Online Gambling Bonuses in Mississippi

Mississippi would undoubtedly offer online sports bettors and casino gamblers plenty of bonuses. Here are the likely deals that would become available in the Magnolia State:

  • No-deposit bonus: A gambling site gives you a bonus just for signing up.
  • Match-deposit bonus: Gambling sites match your deposit up to a given amount (e.g., $1,000).
  • Risk-free bet: You can earn back losses stemming from a losing initial sports bet.
  • Cashback: You receive a percentage of your online-casino losses back (e.g., 10%) up to a specified amount.
  • Free spins: An online casino awards you free slot spins.
  • Loyalty rewards: You receive rewards based on your gambling volume.

FAQ Mississippi Online Gambling

What types of online gambling are legal in Mississippi?

The Magnolia State features legal daily fantasy sports and social casinos. It has yet to regulate other popular forms of internet gambling, such as online casinos and sports betting.

When will Mississippi legalize online sports betting?

We can’t guarantee that MS lawmakers will approve internet sports betting in the near future. However, we estimate that the state will legalize online sports gambling by either 2021 or 2022.

Five pieces of online betting legislation drew the Senate Gaming Commission’s attention. None passed, but these bills show the strong efforts that politicians are making towards legal internet betting.

Are Mississippi gambling winnings taxed?

Yes. Mississippi charges a 3% income tax on gambling winnings. MS gambling establishments may also withhold federal taxes (24%) on large wins.

Is MS online gambling safe?

Yes. The Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC) oversees regulated internet gambling in the state.

If online casinos and/or betting becomes available, the MGC will likely oversee these gambling activities, too. It will study applicants, issue licenses, and put protections in place for online gamblers.

What’s the legal online gambling age in Mississippi?

You must be 21 years old to play casino games and bet on sports in Mississippi. We assume that the same age limit would apply to internet gambling.