Mississippi was one of the first states to legalize sports betting in 2018 after the repeal of PASPA by the US Supreme Court.
This state is not known to be one of the biggest sports markets in the country, but it has always been an early adopter of gambling laws.
However, Mississippi sports betting laws are pretty restrictive, even though both retail and online sports betting are technically permitted in the state. Mississippi online sports betting is not available state-wide, but mobile apps can be used.
Other states throughout the US have posted some record-setting numbers in their sports betting market, but that has not been the case in Mississippi. Despite having plenty of available sports betting options, there has not been much growth since its launch in 2018.
Mississippi has not had much competition in that part of the country since it first launched, but that is set to change in the coming years. MS sports betting will never be one of the top US markets, but bettors in the state can legally place bets.
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Mississippi Sportsbooks
Both retail and online sports betting is available in Mississippi, but that doesn’t mean that you can place a wager from anywhere within the state. All online betting must be done on-site at one of the state’s licensed casino properties.
There are currently 23 retail locations that offer sports betting as Mississippi casinos are a powerhouse industry. Bettors are able to download a mobile app to place a bet online as long as they are on the property of one of these locations.
Sports bettors do have to actually go inside of the retail properties to complete account registration, and there is no limitation as to how many accounts a bettor can create. Sports betting accounts are not limited to residents of the state of Mississippi.
The Mississippi betting market would be more successful without this severe limitation, and legislators are hoping to make a change to this law. Until then, the retail sportsbooks will continue to see the most action.
The coastal casinos in Mississippi continue to see the biggest sports betting numbers, and Mississippi does not have much competition from other states. William Hill currently offers sports betting at 13 of the 23 locations in the state, but FanDuel and DraftKings are available as well.
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Mississippi Sports Betting Rules
Mississippi has some very progressive gambling rules, and that applies to sports betting as well. Sportsbooks in Mississippi are given plenty of freedom, especially when it comes to what betting markets they wish to feature.
International sporting events can be offered by MS sportsbooks, as well as all of the top professional sports in the United States. Each operator will focus on different sporting events and leagues to offer on the site.
Another huge boost for sportsbooks in MS is that they are allowed to offer bets on collegiate sporting events, including those that feature in-state teams. The Ole Miss Rebels and the Mississippi State Bulldogs are the two most popular college teams in the state.
There is no law prohibiting betting on esports in the state of Mississippi, but it is unclear how many sportsbooks offer this betting market. Esports has become extremely popular in the US, and several states have recently approved of this form of betting.
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Mississippi Sports Betting Regulations
Sports betting in Mississippi was first studied in 2014 as the House Gaming Committee put together a task force to study the industry. It became clear at that time that the state was wanting to launch sports betting, but it was still illegal by federal law.
Daily fantasy sports were legalized in 2017, and it opened the door for sports betting to be legalized as well. When the US Supreme Court lifted the federal ban in 2018, the Mississippi Gaming Commission released sports betting regulations almost instantly.
MS sports betting officially launched on August 1, 2018, as a pair of occasions began accepting wagers. Since that time, 21 other retail locations have launched sports betting as well.
In 2019, lawmakers set out to change the MS online sports betting laws with a pair of bills introduced in the House. All of those bills were defeated rather quickly, but new bills are expected to be filed in 2021 in another attempt.
The Mississippi Gaming Commission still regulates the MS sports betting industry, but lawmakers are able to make changes through the lawmaking process.
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Summary
Mississippi online sports betting is technically legal, but all of the sports betting must be done on-site at one of the casinos. That has kept the sports betting numbers down in Mississippi, and it’s unlikely that those rules will be changing anytime soon.
Mississippi was one of the first states to legalize sports betting, and bettors in that state have plenty of options to choose from. The retail sportsbooks are also able to attract visitors from other states as there are not many options in that part of the state.
Betting on both professional and collegiate sporting events is allowed in Mississippi, including those events featuring in-state teams. Sportsbooks have plenty of options when it comes to betting markets, and that has helped attract bettors.
Mississippi sports betting will never be able to compete with some of the bigger markets, but it has been a solid market since launching in 2018. New legislation could be on the way soon to change the MS online betting laws, but it’s unclear how soon that will happen.
