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The complete guide to Mississippi online gambling laws

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Checked by Elena I.

Mississippi gambling laws are some of the most distinctive in the US. The state has welcomed land-based gambling with casinos and retail sportsbooks, but real-money online gambling sites in Mississippi are still illegal. Sportsbook apps can be used on casino grounds only.

I have collected the best legal gambling options on this page, and given you straight answers to all your questions about Mississippi online gambling.

Use the navigation cards to head straight to the areas that interest you. Or, continue reading for the full scoop on Mississippi gambling laws. 

Mississippi online gambling taxes

All forms of online gambling in Mississippi are currently illegal. This includes online casinos offering poker, table games, bingo, live dealer games, and lotteries.

When it comes to sports betting, while it is permissible in the state, you’ll need to be physically located at a partner sportsbook to place your bet.

Online social and sweepstakes casinos were allowed until Senate Bill 2510 passed in February 2025. That means both online social and sweepstakes gaming are now prohibited in the state of Mississippi and punishable by a fine or up to a decade in prison.

Gambling winnings are currently taxed at 3% in the state of Mississippi for in-person sports gambling.

Is the tax rate different for each type of gambling?

No, all money won online from gambling is subject to a 3% state tax rate, regardless of the type of gambling. The 3% state tax is withheld at the time of payout by the casino. This means that it’s automatically deducted from your winnings and contributed to state taxes.

So, you’re not required to report these winnings on your tax return, irrespective of whether you are a Mississippi resident or non-resident.

How does your income affect taxes in Mississippi?

Your overall income does not affect your gaming taxes in Mississippi. This is because the sportsbook automatically withholds a flat 3% state tax on gambling winnings at the time of payout, and this is not relevant or subject to how much you earn.

While Mississippi imposes a flat 4.4% state income tax, this does not apply to gambling winnings. So, unlike in other states, gambling winnings are not included as part of your annual taxable income. However, gambling winnings are considered taxable income at the federal level and must be reported to the IRS.

What’s more, larger winnings could push you into a higher federal tax bracket, and this may ultimately increase your overall tax liability. But as far as Mississippi state taxes go, your total income does not change the 3% state gambling tax rate.

How to pay gambling taxes in Mississippi?

Unlike some other states, Mississippi makes things simple when it comes to gambling taxes. The state automatically takes 3% of your winnings at payout, so there’s no extra work for you. But, you still need to handle federal taxes on your own. Here’s what to do:

Step 1: Collect your winnings

Step 2: Keep track of your winnings and losses

Step 3: File your federal taxes

Step 4: Deduct your gambling losses (If you qualify)

Step 5: Pay any remaining federal tax owed

Key takeaways

So, for Mississippi state taxes, it’s automatic, but for federal taxes, you’re responsible for making sure everything is reported and paid.

Tax breakdown for players in Mississippi

The only form of legal online gambling in Mississippi is sports betting, provided you are physically located at a land-based sportsbook or gambling establishment at the time of placing your bets. 

Online sports betting (while at a land-based sportsbook)

What happens if you don’t report gambling winnings in Mississippi?

When it comes to Mississippi state taxes, nothing’s going to happen if you don’t file your gambling winnings on your state tax return. This is because the state already takes 3% of your winnings at the time of payout. So, once again, you don’t have to report them on your state tax return.

That said, you are liable for reporting and paying federal taxes. If you don’t report all winnings on Form W-2G or fail to inform the IRS, they could come after you. This means they could flag your return, or you could owe penalties and interest.

That said, while you don’t need to report winnings on your state taxes because it’s automatic, skipping federal taxes could lead to a series of negative consequences. So, it’s in your best interest to keep track of all your gambling winnings and losses and report federal taxes on time.

Despite being one of the most welcoming states to retail gambling, lawmakers drafting the Mississippi gaming control act have approached online gambling sites more cautiously. After the state legalized land-based casinos in 1990, Mississippi saw a massive rush of casinos opening up.

Now, there are almost 30 in operation. The Magnolia State even legalized sports betting before the US Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) in 2018.

Having said that, you can’t gamble at Mississippi casinos online, play online poker, play live dealer games, or buy lottery tickets online. There are a limited number of online sportsbooks, and using these sites is restricted by location.

You can only legally bet in the partner land-based casino of your sportsbook. The minimum gambling age in Mississippi is 21+ for most activities. 

Gambling verticalOffline legal ageOnline legal ageOnline since
Casinos21+N/AN/A
Social casinosN/A21+N/A
Sportsbooks21+21+September 2021
Social betting appsN/A21+N/A
Poker21+N/AN/A
Lottery21+N/AN/A
Bingo18+N/AN/A

Mississippi online casinos Not yet legal

Are there any legal online gambling sites in Mississippi? No. The Magnolia State may have welcomed dozens of commercial land-based casinos over more than three decades, but the state’s lawmakers aren’t ready to legalize online casinos yet.

It seemed like the state was very interested at one point when the House Gaming Committee formed the Internet Gaming Taskforce in 2014. The Taskforce was responsible for studying the possibility of an online launch. The results viewed launching Mississippi online gambling negatively, citing technology issues and how rural the state is.

These concerns led the Taskforce to conclude that Mississippi online gambling may not be profitable. There have been more recent attempts to legalize online casinos, but so far, nothing has passed.

As of 2025, all sweepstakes casinos have also become illegal. Purely social casinos such as Gambino Slots are currently still accepted, though discussions are still ongoing.

Mississippi online betting sites Not yet legal

Mississippi gambling laws for sports betting are different than in other jurisdictions. In most states, you can download a sportsbook app and bet from anywhere in the state as long as you are old enough to gamble.

While retail sportsbooks operate at licensed land-based casinos in Mississippi, you can’t place bets online from anywhere. Some MS sportsbooks allow you to download an app to use on the casino’s property. You will need to enable the app to track your device’s location, and you can’t bet once you leave the casino.  

Mississippi Gambling Illustration

Offline gambling in Mississippi

There are 29 land-based casinos spread across the Magnolia State, where you can play slot games, table games, and poker. Many of these land-based casinos also provide retail sportsbooks where you can place bets.

The Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC) licenses every commercial casino. There are also some tribal casinos that the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians regulates.

Some casinos were launched back in the early 90s with more and more casinos opening up their doors as recently as 2015. Some of the Mississipi land-based casinos also have an online social casino counterpart.

RetailLocationLaunch dateSocial casino
WaterView Casino and HotelVicksburg1993No
Trop Casino GreenvilleGreenville2012No
Silver Star CasinoPhiladelphia1994Pearl River Social Casino
Silver Slipper CasinoBay St Louis2006No
Scarlet Pearl Casino and HotelD’Iberville2015No
Sam’s Town CasinoTunica1994Stardust Social Casino
Riverwalk Casino and HotelVicksburg2008No
Palace Casino ResortBiloxi1997No
Magnolia Bluffs CasinoNatchez2012No
Bally’s CasinoVicksburg1994No
Isle of Capri Casino and ResortLula1992No
Island View Casino ResortGulfport2006No
IP Casino Resort SpaBiloxi1997Stardust Social Casino
Hollywood Casino TunicaTunica1994mychoice casino
Hollywood Casino Gulf CoastBay St Louis1992mychoice casino
Harrah’s Gulf CoastBiloxi1994No
Harlow’s Casino ResortGreenville2007No
Hard Rock Hotel and CasinoBiloxi2007Hard Rock Social Casino
Golden Moon Hotel and CasinoPhiladelphia2002Pearl River Social Casino
Gold Strike Casino ResortTunica1994MGM Slots Live – Vegas Casino
Fitz Casino HotelTunica2001No
Boomtown CasinoBiloxi1994mychoice casino
Bok Homa CasinoHeidelberg2010Pearl River Social Casino
Ameristar CasinoVicksburg1994mychoice casino
1st Jackpot CasinoTunica1993mychoice casino
Golden Nugget Biloxi Hotel and CasinoBiloxi2013No
Horseshoe TunicaTunica1995No
Beau Rivage Resort and CasinoBiloxi1999MGM Slots Live – Vegas Casino

Mississippi gambling and safety

Compared to the rest of the US, Mississippi has unique gambling rules. The state government formed the Mississippi Gaming Commission in 1990 to enforce those regulations. Only gambling operators licensed by the MGC can provide casino games, sports betting, or charitable games in MS. The body is responsible for checking every company that applies for a gambling license sticks to gambling regulations. The MGC also runs background checks on key staff members.

Following Mississippi gambling laws, the Mississippi Gaming Control act currently doesn’t regulate any online casino gambling. The MGC licensed BetMGM and Pearl Rivers Sports to provide online betting within the confines of each operator’s partner casinos.

FAQs

Is online gambling legal in Mississippi?

Most forms of online gambling aren’t yet legal in Mississippi. You can’t play online casino games, bingo, or lottery online for real money. There are also limited locations where you can place sports bets online, so you can’t wager legally at home.

Is gambling legal in Mississippi?

Yes. You can visit land-based casinos in Mississippi and play slots and table games. Some of these casinos also have retail sportsbooks where you can place bets on professional sports. You can’t play from your home with online casinos or online sportsbooks. 

When did sports betting launch in Mississippi?

Mississippi legalized sports betting in 2017 before the US Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in May 2018. The Magnolia State didn’t need to pass additional legislation to launch retail sports betting in August 2018 at land-based casinos. Limited online sports betting launched in September 2021 as BetMGM provided its app to the state.

Can I place bets with sportsbook apps in Mississippi?

Some sportsbook operators offer mobile apps you can use to bet. You must be within the grounds of the sportsbook’s partnered casino to wager legally in Mississippi. The sportsbook will require access to your geolocation services to verify this.

How old do you have to be to gamble in Mississippi?

To place sports bets or gamble at land-based casinos in Mississippi, you must be 21 years old. You will need a photo ID to enter land-based casinos for gambling and betting. You can play charitable games like bingo if you are 18.

Sources

https://www.betmississippi.com/

https://www.betmississippi.com/gambling-winnings-tax

https://www.gambling.com/us/online-casinos/mississippi

https://www.freetaxusa.com/answers?faq=7384

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