Mississippi Sports Betting

Sports betting has been legal in Mississippi since 2018. However, currently, the state only allows in-person betting. Mississippi is one of a handful of states that introduced sports betting legislation before the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) in 2018. When they enacted the Fantasy Contest Act in March 2017, Mississippi legislators quietly removed language from the bill prohibiting operators in the state from taking bets on various sports markets. 

This foresight allowed the Magnolia State to launch its regulated sports betting market within three months of the PASPA repeal. Almost two dozen sportsbooks began taking bets in August 2018, and there are now almost 30 retail sportsbooks operating within the state’s casinos. With a total betting handle of over $1.6 billion, Mississippi generates more revenue than any other retail-only US state.

There are 29 retail sportsbooks in Mississippi, five of which offer mobile betting from within the premises. It is not yet legal to bet from a mobile device outside of a retail facility, though several legislators have made attempts to rectify this. Read on to discover the ins and outs of sports betting in Mississippi and whether mobile sports betting could soon land in the state.

Sports Betting Operators in Mississippi

Mississippi has 29 sportsbooks at brick-and-mortar casinos. These retail sportsbooks sit in some of the best gambling facilities, including Hard Rock, Golden Nugget, Bally’s, and the Caesars-owned Harrah’s Gulf Coast.

There are over a dozen smaller casinos boasting big-brand sportsbooks like BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel, alongside a handful of IGT-operated tribal sportsbooks. Mississippi operates a retail-only betting market. There are online sportsbooks, but you can only use these betting sites on the grounds of partnered casinos. 

Excluding the three tribal sportsbooks (which are regulated by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Gaming Commission), the Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC) distributes licenses to every sportsbook in the state.

Mississippi Legislation Timeline

• March 2017: Governor Phil Bryant signs HB 967 into law. Otherwise known as the Fantasy Contest Act, the bill legalizes Daily Fantasy Sports in Mississippi. The bill also removes language prohibiting sports betting in case the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) is ever overturned.
• May 14, 2018: The Supreme Court strikes down PASPA. Within a few hours, the Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC) releases a draft of its proposed sports betting regulations. 
• June 2018: The MGC’s proposed sports betting regulations go into effect after a 30-day review period. Operators can now start applying for a retail sportsbook license.
• August 2018: Retail sportsbooks in Mississippi open for the first time. Launching on August 1, BetMGM-operated sportsbooks at Beau Rivage and Gold Strike take the state’s first legal bets.
• September 2018: IGT partners with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians to launch the state’s first three tribal betting facilities. The Golden Moon Hotel & Casino is the first tribal sportsbook to launch in Mississippi, taking its first bets in August.
• January 2019: Senator Willie Simmons proposes the Gaming Control Act to legalize mobile sports betting outside of retail casino properties. The act fails in February.
• January 2020: Representative Cedric Burnett introduces HB 172, which would allow retail sportsbooks to launch online and take bets from anywhere in Mississippi. Two months after it is proposed, the bill fails.
• January 2021: The first online sportsbooks land in Mississippi, courtesy of BetMGM. Though you can now wager from your phone using the BetMGM app, you must be physically located in a partnered retail sportsbook.
• January 2022: Rep. Burnett introduces HB 184. The bill would legalize mobile sports betting in Mississippi outside of retail sportsbooks. Though there is some support, the bill ultimately dies. This is Burnett’s third attempt to legalize mobile betting in three years.

Mississippi Sports Betting Handle

Launching its sports betting market just a couple of months after the PASPA repeal, Mississippi was one of the first states to welcome sportsbooks. Retail sportsbooks began taking bets on August 1, and the Magnolia State has generated a seven-figure betting handle ever since. Despite a brief lull during the early months of the pandemic, it didn’t take long for Mississippi’s handle to return to its normal rate.

Mississippi Sports Teams

Mississippi doesn’t have teams representing it in the NFL, NBA, or NHL. Its largest city, Jackson, is not big enough to support an NFL team. Instead, college football is the Magnolia State’s dominant sport, with the Mississippi State University Bulldogs and the University of Mississippi “Ole Miss” Rebels competing in one of the biggest inter-state competitions in the US.

Ole Miss Rebels Football

The Ole Miss Rebels represent the University of Mississippi in the NCAA. Originally named the Mississippi Flood, the team was formed in 1893 and rebranded as the Rebels in 1936. Ole Miss was Mississippi’s first football team and celebrated its 600th win in 2008 after beating the Florida Gators on the Gators’ turf.

Since forming over a century ago, Ole Miss has won six Southeastern Conference titles, taking home its last trophy in 1962. The same year, the team won its third national championship. While these accolades are impressive, the Rebels’ most significant victory is its 64-47 win streak over its inter-state rivals, the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Alongside football, Ole Miss has basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, cross country, and track and field teams. The women's division also competes in softball, soccer, volleyball, and rifle.

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Two years after Ole Miss’ inaugural match, Mississippi State formed its own football team. What the Bulldogs lack in wins (securing the SEC Championship just once in 1941 and the division championship in 1998), it more than makes up for in stats. The college football program has produced 38 All-Americans and 124 NFL players.

Though Ole Miss is certainly the team to beat, the Bulldogs hold the record for the longest consecutive win streak in the “Egg Bowl” (13 games from 1911-1925, as opposed to Ole Miss’ six back-to-back victories from 1930-1935.)

Mississippi Sea Wolves

Throughout the past couple of decades, the state’s various professional hockey teams - including the Jackson Bandits, the Mississippi RiverKings, the Tupelo T-Rex, and the Mississippi Sea Wolves - gradually stopped competing in professional leagues and went extinct. However, the Sea Wolves are returning to the Gulf Coast for the 2022/23 season.

The team competed in the ECHL from 1996 to 2009, though it took a two-year hiatus from 2005-2007 after Hurricane Katrina caused extensive damage to the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. When the Wolves make their highly anticipated return to the ice, they will play in the Federal Prospects Hockey League.

Mississippi Braves

The Mississippi Braves (known locally as the M-Braves) are one of the state’s two Minor League Baseball teams. Headquartered in Pearl, Jackson, the Mississippi Braves are the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and compete in the Southern League. 

The team began its first season in 2005 after the Greenville Braves relocated from South Carolina to Pearl. Since then, they have won the Southern League Championship Series twice: once against the Carolina Mudcats in 2008 and again in 2021 against the Montgomery Biscuits.

Biloxi Shuckers

The second of Mississippi’s two active Minor League Baseball teams, the Biloxi Shuckers also compete in the Southern League and are the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. After relocating from Alabama, the Biloxi Shuckers (previously known as the Huntsville Stars) played their first game in 2015. They have since played in three Southern League Championships but are yet to win a title.

Mississippi Sports Events

In addition to its sports teams, Mississippi is also home to a variety of popular sporting events. From college football rivalries to the nationwide State Games, there is plenty for fans to enjoy. Check out some of the most popular sports events in MS below.

State Games of Mississippi

Held annually from April to June, the State Games is a non-profit organization that aims to promote a healthy and active lifestyle for Mississippi residents of all ages. The inaugural games were held in 1992 and have been held almost every year since. All residents can get involved (including college students, military personnel, and visitors from states without their own State Games). 

Most of the sports competitions at the States Games feature events you see in the Olympics. However, the list of eligible sports isn’t confined to the Olympic roster. In fact, the State Games offer a much more diverse lineup, including Barrel Racing, Pickleball, Stand-up Paddleboarding, and a special Pumpkin Run event. The top three medalists from each sport are then eligible to compete in the State Games of America, where they face winners from other participating states.

The Egg Bowl

Otherwise known as “the Battle for the Golden Egg,” the Egg Bowl sees the Ole Miss Rebels battle it out against the Mississippi State Bulldogs over Thanksgiving weekend. Contests in odd-numbered years are held in Starkville, MS, at the Davis Wade Stadium. In even-numbered years, the match takes place at the Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, MS.

The first competition took place in 1901, and it has continued consecutively since 1944, making it the tenth-longest uninterrupted US series. As it currently stands, Ole Miss leads the series with a respectable 64-47 win, though the Bulldogs claimed the 2022 Egg Bowl title.

Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament

Every April, a team of amateur golfers pairs up with a Mississippi celebrity to compete in the Celebrity Golf Tournament. From sports legends to coaches and college administrators, the Magnolia State’s most prominent sporting personalities flock to the Annandale Golf Club to play for various prizes. The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum hosts the event.