As far as states that have only retail sports betting, Mississippi is actually one of the better ones. The state only hurts itself and its residents by not offering online and mobile betting, but there are a lot of different operators in the state because of the strong gaming presence in both Tunica and the Gulf Coast.
That means that Mississippians at least have choices when it comes to where they want to bet and which operator they want to bet with based on their own personal preferences.
Mississippi was actually one of the first states to launch sports betting on August 1, 2018. Only New Jersey moved quicker. There are more than 20 properties in the state that offer retail sports betting. In time, there could be a change to the laws that currently restrict sports betting to an on-site endeavor, but that could be a long way into the future.
For now, Mississippi has a lot of different options for residents and visitors. The Gulf Coast area, with cities like Biloxi and Gulfport, and Tunica are very popular weekend getaway destinations in the southeast and a lot of vacationers have taken the chance to place some bets while in those places.
Mississippi actually legalized daily fantasy sports (DFS) in 2017 and left language in the bill that allowed for sports betting in the state. As a result, when PASPA was struck down on May 14, 2018, Mississippi acted quickly and began plans for legalized wagering at the retail sites.
Previous legislation in both 2019 and 2020 failed to change the law on the books to open the state up for mobile and online wagering. It will be an annual effort until the law is changed and evidence to change the law is mounting with each passing day in states that are fully open for online and mobile betting.
For example, Tennessee to the north is going to show just how lucrative an open environment is for sports betting month after month while Mississippi continues to unnecessarily restrict itself to retail-only wagering. Some mobile capability exists for placing bets, but only on-site with certain sportsbooks.
So, Mississippi, which could have been a booming market, particularly with states like Louisiana, which just recently passed sports betting, Texas, which may never approve sports betting, and Alabama, which is one of five states that doesn’t even participate in the lottery, all in close proximity, is behind the times, despite being one of the first states to take bets.
It’s funny how that works. But, like we said, Mississippi is the best environment for states that only take retail wagers, so the glass is at least half-full.
How Do I Bet on Sports in Mississippi?
There are more than 20 locations that take legal sports bets in Mississippi. Most are located in Tunica or along the Gulf Coast in places like Biloxi or Gulfport. A variety of different sports betting operators, like Barstool, BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, and William Hill are available.
Because you are just betting at the counter, you don’t necessarily have to have an account in Mississippi, unless you plan on using the mobile apps while on site. Many probably just prefer to hand cash to the teller at the window or insert bills into the on-site kiosks. The process for betting in Mississippi is very old school compared to most locations.
Another option is to go to Tennessee, where you can place bets on your mobile phone or via the online websites.
Louisiana will be adding sports betting late in 2021 or in 2022, but we don’t know the details as of yet.
What Are The Best Online Sportsbooks in Mississippi
While you can’t sign up for these online, at least as of yet, here are some of the top sportsbooks in Mississippi.
Barstool (Penn National)
Barstool Sportsbook has a strong presence in Mississippi after taking over the Penn National branding from the merger between the two companies. Barstool hasn’t really infiltrated a lot of other markets to this point, but Mississippi is definitely one of its biggest states.
BetMGM
Beau Rivage and Gold Strike are two BetMGM properties in Mississippi. BetMGM also operates in nearby Tennessee. A highly-reputable presence in the gaming industry around the world, BetMGM continues to grow its sports betting and online casino brand in the United States.
DraftKings
DraftKings Sportsbook operates out of the Scarlett Pearl Casino down on the Gulf Coast. It is the only DraftKings Sportsbook in the state, but everybody knows DraftKings nationally. DraftKings is also operating in nearby Tennessee.
FanDuel
FanDuel has a limited presence in Mississippi, but a huge presence across the United States as the nation’s top sports betting operator. FanDuel is also in operation in Tennessee and will continue to grow its brand and reach across the country.
William Hill
William Hill has an enormous presence in Mississippi. They operate the majority of the sportsbooks in the state with more than 10 retail locations spread throughout. William Hill US began in 2012, but William Hill as an overall company has been around since the 1930s.
Brick & Mortar Sportsbooks In Mississippi
Bets can be placed at these sportsbooks:
Bay St. Louis
Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast (William Hill)
Silver Slipper Casino (WH)
Biloxi
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino (BetMGM)
Boomtown Casino (WH)
Golden Nugget (Golden Nugget)
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Hard Rock)
Harrah’s Gulf Coast (Caesars)
IP Casino Resort Spa (FanDuel)
Palace Casino Resort (WH)
Treasure Bay Casino and Hotel (WH)
D’Iberville
Scarlett Pearl Casino and Hotel (DraftKings)
Greenville
Harlow’s Casino Resort (BetAmerica)
Trop Casino Greenville (WH)
Heidelberg
Bok Homa Casino (IGT)
Lula
Isle of Capri Casino & Resort (WH)
Natchez
Magnolia Bluffs Casino (MBC)
Philadelphia
Golden Moon Hotel & Casino (I)
Silver Star Casino (I)
Robinsonville
1st Jackpot Casino (WH)
Fitz Casino Hotel (Foundation Gaming Group)
Gold Strike Casino Resort (BetMGM)
Hollywood Casino Tunica (WH)
Horseshoe Casino & Hotel (C)
Sam’s Town (FD)
Vicksburg
Ameristar Casino (WH)
Lady Luck Casino (WH)
Riverwalk Casino and Hotel (BA)
WaterView Casino and Hotel (WH)
Mississippi Sports Betting
Sports betting has been legal in Mississippi since 2018, but in a retail capacity only. We’ll keep you updated here at ATS.io to see if that gets extended to online and mobile betting anytime soon, as legislation keeps popping up in hopes of doing that, but it has not become a serious consideration to this point.
