Mississippi Online Gambling
Mississippi takes a conservative approach toward online gambling expansion despite the state’s significant land-based casino industry.
As a result, legal Mississippi online gambling options are currently limited to daily fantasy sports, on-site mobile sports betting within licensed casino properties, and several unregulated or gray-area alternatives.
Efforts to expand online gambling, particularly statewide mobile sports betting, have been a recurring topic in the legislature but have yet to overcome significant hurdles.
The following page provides a detailed overview of the legal status of the various forms of online gambling in Mississippi. Read on for an overview of current Mississippi online gambling options, what alternatives are available, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Legal Mississippi Gambling Sites
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Mississippi Online Gambling Overview
| Type of Gambling (minimum age) | Legal Status | Notes |
| Online Casinos (n/a) | Illegal | Prohibited under MS Code § 97-33-1. |
| Sweepstakes Casinos (18+) | Contested | MGC deems sweeps casinos illegal under existing law; cease-and-desist orders issued in 2025; some operators exited; others remain active. |
| Online Poker (n/a) | Illegal | Treated the same as online casinos under state law. |
| Online Sports Betting (n/a) | Illegal | MS Code § 75-76-1 et seq. authorizes online wagers on casino premises, but statewide online betting remains illegal |
| Daily Fantasy Sports (18+) | Legal/Regulated | Authorized under MS Code § 97-33-301 et seq. |
| Fantasy Pick’em Contests (18+) | Legal/Regulated | Player-vs-house formats prohibited; peer-to-peer pick’em permitted for licensed operators. |
| Online Lottery Sales (n/a) | Illegal | The Mississippi Lottery does not offer online ticket sales; third-party courier apps prohibited. |
| Online Horse Racing (n/a) | Illegal | Advance deposit wagering is not permitted in Mississippi. |
Mississippi Online Casinos
Online casinos are illegal in Mississippi.
State law explicitly prohibits games of chance that are not specifically authorized and regulated.
The primary statute prohibiting online gambling in Mississippi is MS Code § 97-33-1, which makes it a crime to “encourage, promote or play at any game…for money or other valuable thing” unless another law explicitly exempts that activity.
The Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC) reinforces this prohibition with explicit public warnings. The official MGC website states unequivocally that “online casino games are illegal” and cautions residents that companies promoting such games online are making false claims of legality.
The Commission further warns that both online casino operators and players may be subject to criminal prosecution.
Legalization Outlook
Currently, there is no political momentum or active legislative effort to authorize online casinos in Mississippi. The state legislature’s attention remains focused on the long-stalled debate over expanding sports betting to a statewide mobile format.
Any potential consideration of legalizing Mississippi online casinos is a distant prospect, highly unlikely to occur until after (and if) lawmakers successfully legalize statewide online sports betting.
Sweepstakes Casinos in Mississippi
Sweepstakes casinos operate in a contested legal environment in Mississippi.
The absence of legal online casinos in Mississippi has led to the proliferation of sweeps casinos as the next closest alternative.
The concept is simple: offer casino-style games like real-money slots and blackjack online, provide mechanisms for players to participate with “no purchase necessary,” and award cash prizes to winners.
However, the Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC) considers it illegal to operate or play at sweepstakes casinos and has issued cease-and-desist orders to operators.
Some sweepstakes casinos have exited the Mississippi market as a result, but others insist their games are legal and have defied the MGC’s orders.
Some of the most established sweepstakes casinos still available in Mississippi include:
- McLuck Casino
- WOW Vegas Casino
- Stake.us Casino
- Luckybird.io Casino
- Mega Bonanza Casino
- High 5 Casino
Legal Status of Sweepstakes Casinos in Mississippi
By offering free methods of participation, sweepstakes casinos aim to remove the “consideration” (risking something of value) element from their games and avoid classification as illegal gambling.
Under Mississippi law, a game must have consideration, chance, and prize to qualify as gambling. If one of those elements is missing, the game does not qualify as gambling.
However, the MGC contends that offering mechanisms for players to play for free is not enough to exempt sweepstakes casinos from state gambling laws.
The MGC’s cease-and-desist orders emphasized that even no purchase necessary models constitute illegal gambling “if there is an opportunity for the player to provide consideration and win something of value…”
Numerous sweepstakes casinos and their technology providers exited the Mississippi market in response to the MGC’s orders, but most of the nation’s prominent operators remain available to residents.
According to the MGC, players participating in “illegal gaming” could face “arrest, prosecution and potential forfeiture of gaming funds.” That means there are real risks associated with playing at sweepstakes casinos in Mississippi, although the state has not actually targeted individual players to date.
Will Mississippi Force Sweepstakes Casinos Out?
Although regulators in some states have successfully wielded cease-and-desist orders to force sweepstakes casinos out, Mississippi’s efforts have yielded mixed results.
The MGC clearly considers sweeps casinos illegal, but without immediate, state-specific enforcement tools (new statute, civil penalties, court injunctions, or coordinated settlements), the letters alone haven’t forced a total market exit.
Mississippi lawmakers considered SB 2510 in 2025 to explicitly ban sweepstakes casinos and give MGC cease-and-desist orders more teeth. However, the bill failed after the House amended it to include provisions authorizing online sports betting.
Although SB 2510 did not ultimately pass, its introduction by a key senator and the support it received from the MGC demonstrate a strong consensus among state leaders to eliminate sweepstakes casinos. Expect additional actions in the future.
Mississippi Online Poker
Online poker is illegal in Mississippi.
Mississippi’s strong anti-gambling laws also apply to real-money online poker. Under state law, online poker qualifies as illegal online gambling in Mississippi, and there are no exceptions for skill-based or peer-to-peer games.
Some sweepstakes poker sites remain available in Mississippi, although they also operate on the same uncertain legal footing as sweeps casinos. Players who choose to use sweepstakes poker sites in Mississippi also face the same legal risks as those who use unregulated gambling sites.
Legalization Outlook
Mississippi is unlikely to legalize online poker in the near future. There have been no specific legislative efforts to legalize and regulate online poker in Mississippi, and public support appears limited.
Legalizing online poker in Mississippi would necessitate a significant shift in the state’s legislative priorities and the establishment of a new statutory framework. Currently, there are no indications that lawmakers intend to take up the burden of introducing a legalization bill and garnering support for its passage.
Mississippi Online Sports Betting
Online sports betting is illegal in Mississippi.
State law limits all sports wagering to the premises of licensed casinos. Technically, users may place “online” wagers via mobile apps while on casino property, but statewide online sports betting remains prohibited.
Two of the nation’s most prominent online sports betting brands, BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook, are active in Mississippi, but customers may only use those apps while located at their partner casinos.
Legalization Outlook
The most significant recent legislative effort to legalize online sports betting statewide was 2024’s HB 774, titled the “Mississippi Mobile Sports Wagering Act.”
Initially, the bill showed promise and gained traction quickly. It passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 97-14, which indicated broad support for expanding the Mississippi sports betting market.
The original version of HB 774 proposed a competitive but controlled market structure. Key provisions included:
- A casino-tethered model, where each of the state’s licensed casinos could partner with a single online sports betting operator.
- A graduated tax rate of 4-8% on gross revenue.
- The authorization of “online race books,” which would have legalized online horse racing betting alongside sports wagering.
Despite having widespread support, the bill failed in the Senate due to lawmakers’ inability to reach a compromise on how the bill should protect tourism revenue for brick-and-mortar casino interests.
Lawmakers reintroduced the “Mississippi Mobile Sports Wagering Act” in 2025 by attaching it as an amendment to SB 2510. The addition of unrelated language to a bill banning sweepstakes casinos ultimately led to the bill’s demise.
Mississippi Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests are legal and regulated in Mississippi.
Mississippi was one of the earlier states to formally legalize and regulate daily fantasy sports. In 2017, the legislature passed the Fantasy Contest Act (HB 967). The bill definitively classified fantasy contests as games of skill, exempting them from the state’s general prohibitions on gambling.
The Fantasy Contest Act designated the Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC) as the sole regulatory and licensing authority to oversee DFS contests.
Key regulations established under the Act include:
- Licensing: All operators must obtain a license from the MGC.
- Minimum Age: Participants must be 21 or older.
- Taxation: Licensed operators are required to pay a tax equivalent to 8% of their net revenue generated from players in Mississippi.
- Prohibited Contests: The law explicitly prohibits operators from offering any contests based on the performance of athletes in amateur sporting events, including collegiate, high school, or youth sports.
- Consumer Protections: Operators must adhere to various consumer protection mandates, such as segregating player funds from operational funds to ensure payouts.
Fantasy Pick’em Contests in Mississippi
Fantasy pick’em contests are legal and regulated in Mississippi.
After the Fantasy Contest Act legalized daily fantasy sports in Mississippi, the emergence of pick’em games prompted regulatory clarification.
In August 2023, the Mississippi Gaming Commission issued guidance clarifying that fantasy contests in which a player competes against the House on whether an athlete will go over or under a statistical projection are considered sports betting, not fantasy contests. The statement effectively prohibited the “player vs. house” format offered by some operators at the time.
However, the MGC’s clarification did not ban all forms of pick’em contests. Operators who offer peer-to-peer contests, where players compete against each other rather than the operator, may still qualify for licenses.
Only a handful of fantasy sports sites are licensed in Mississippi, and Underdog Fantasy is by far the most prominent pick’em-style operator.
Mississippi Online Lottery Sales
Online lottery sales are illegal in Mississippi.
The Mississippi Lottery Corporation (MLC) only sells tickets in person through its network of licensed retailers.
The official lottery website’s FAQ section explicitly states that players may not buy lottery tickets online and that sales are only available at approved retail locations throughout the state.
The MLC’s official rules expressly forbid retailers from selling tickets “by mail, e-mail, internet, telephone, fax or other similar method of communications”.
Additionally, third-party lottery courier apps like Jackpocket and TheLotter are not available in Mississippi. There has been no significant legislative push to authorize online lottery sales, and the focus of the Mississippi Lottery Corporation remains on expanding its retail presence and game offerings.
Online Horse Racing Betting in Mississippi
Online horse racing betting is illegal in Mississippi.
The state’s general prohibitions on gambling apply to pari-mutuel wagering, making it illegal to bet on horse races online.
Consequently, advance deposit wagering platforms (ADWs) do not operate in Mississippi. Major ADWs like FanDuel Racing, TwinSpires, and DK Horse do not accept wagers from Mississippi residents.
However, retail betting on horse races is legal and available at licensed sportsbook locations inside Mississippi’s casinos. When Mississippi legalized sports betting in 2018, the law allowed licensed operators to accept wagers on a wide range of sporting events, including horse racing.
In short, fans may bet on horse races in person at some casinos, but online wagering remains prohibited. Mississippi law does not authorize a standalone pari-mutuel wagering system or a racing commission, so all legal horse betting is conducted through the existing sports betting regulatory structure overseen by the Mississippi Gaming Commission.
Mississippi Gambling Regulators
Three agencies oversee gambling, sports betting, and lottery sales in Mississippi:
- Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC): Regulates commercial casinos, retail sportsbooks, race books, and fantasy contests; issues licenses; enforces gaming laws; runs the statewide self‑exclusion program.
- Choctaw Gaming Commission: Regulates Choctaw gaming on tribal lands, including casino and sportsbook operations under the Tribal‑State Compact and federal law.
- Mississippi Lottery Corporation (MLC): Operates lottery games, licenses retailers, sets rules, and enforces age and sales policies.
Responsible Gambling Resources in Mississippi
Mississippi promotes responsible gambling and offers resources for players who require assistance.
Responsible Gambling Organizations
- National Problem Gambling Helpline: Offers free, confidential help 24/7 at 1-800-522-4700.
- Mississippi Department of Mental Health: Offers counseling and connects callers with accredited treatment providers.
- Mississippi Council on Problem and Compulsive Gambling (MCPG): Provides education and a referral network for Mississippi residents. Call 1-888-777-9696 or text msgambler to 53342.
Self-Exclusion Resources
- MGC Self‑Exclusion Program: Self-exclude from all Mississippi casinos for periods of 3-10 years. Individuals may only apply for lifetime self-exclusion after completing a minimum 3-year period.
- DFS Self-Exclusion Tools: Players may self-exclude from daily fantasy sports apps individually within their account settings.
- Unregulated Online Gambling Platforms: Unregulated and illegal online gambling sites in Mississippi are often lacking in the responsible gambling department. Some unregulated gambling platforms may offer standalone self-exclusion programs, accessible within players’ account settings.