Mississippi Gambling Laws – All You Need to Know

MS has a long history related to gaming and the relevant games of chance variations. When you mention Mississippi and gambling collectively, fascinating images of steam-powered riverboat casinos immediately emerge. All of which are complete with cheats and card sharps. Mississippi was very dry for gamblers before, but you can enjoy a vast choice of casinos nowadays. There are many poker rooms and charity gaming. Still, lottery, horse racing betting, and provision for private social games in the state are illegal. This article looks in detail at the Mississippi gambling laws.

Below, you will find a quick overview of the key historical moments in the development of gambling in Mississippi. After this, a run-through of the laws and types of gambling, with notes on the status of each. There are also details on the online gaming situation in MS, some law references, a history of Mississippi gambling laws timeline, and a peek at the future government ideas.

History of Mississippi Gambling Laws

Gaming in Mississippi dates all the way back before it was a state in the US. Then, there was a lot in the way of gambling, but the first betting opportunity, a.k.a. horse racing, offered loads of excitement in the 1700s. In the 1800s, riverboat casinos and coastal resorts added games of chance to the existing sports activities. The existence of such casinos dated through the 1900s until these gambling parlours were outlawed in the 1950s. Those restrictions pushed gaming to go underground. Hurricane Camille was the phenomenon helping legal casino gambling in MS to emerge again.

After the hurricane destroyed the Gulf Coast, voters approved casino gaming to help stimulate the depressed economies in 1990. The first casinos returned after a 23-year absence in 1992. This time, there was no grey activity, and they were all legal and fully licensed under the gambling laws in Mississippi. More natural disasters have been in the way of gambling in MS. The state kept inventing laws and legislations adapting to the current situations allowing people to have fun.

Gambling Laws Mississippi – The Legal MS Gambling Activities

Online gaming is illegal in the state of Mississippi. You will not find any off-track betting apps, as they are unlawful as well. There are no lottery tickets sold online and offline. Locals can purchase lottery tickets sold in other states. The gambling laws Mississippi declares, prohibit the sale of lottery tickets from other states within state lines. Players can bet on horses only at a legal cruise ship casino. There are no horse race tracks nowadays in contrast to the 1700s successful horse racing ventures.

Locals can also enjoy charitable bingo games at the allowed locations. The legal casino forms are presented by riverboat casinos. They should be docked or within 800 feet of the water. Mississippi does have language in its criminal code that deems iGaming illegal. They do not license it, and it is in the grey area, which is the case with many gambling laws in other states. In case you want to try some offshore online platform, it will be at your own risk.

Gambling Laws in Mississippi Explained

Many states now permit gaming to a certain degree, which is usually highly regulated by a state agency. Since MS legalized gaming in 1990, it has become famous for the cruise gambling vessel on the Gulf of Mexico. There are many Native American casinos owned and regulated by the local tribes. The Mississippi Band of Choctaws is one of them and operates the Pearl River Resort. The gaming laws are used by the Mississippi Gaming Commission to regulate local gambling and everything related, including taxation, used to provide revenue for various state programs. Here is a list with the MS laws explaining each gambling option in the state:

It is advisable to keep an eye on the state laws as they are frequently updated. Compared to other states, there are many clauses in the regulations, which are sometimes very specific and never very clear. For example, the legal gambling age is 21, and casinos are subject to a 3% non-refundable income tax. The consensus is that despite all the exceptions and caveats, the primary definition of betting is the key factor. The gambling laws in Mississippi have a transparent body with much precise information on penalties and carve-outs.

“If any person shall encourage, promote or play at any game, play or amusement, other than a fight or fighting match between dogs, for money or other valuable thing, or shall wager or bet, promote or encourage the wagering or betting of any money or other valuable things, upon any game, play, amusement… “ SEC. 97-33-1. Betting, gaming or wagering; exception from prohibition; penalty.

It is also a crime to own gambling devices and exhibiting them in public, including card tables. Curiously, if you come out as the winner of an illegal gambling game, you have to pay a fine based on the winnings. What is more, the proceeds are presumably confiscated during any raid. So, this could turn a great night into a costly one.

Mississippi Online Gambling Laws

Mississippi online gambling laws forbid local websites from offering gaming opportunities to the locals. There was a particular bill in the history of Mississippi gambling laws, related to online poker in 2012 but didn’t make it to the floor. It was introduced by Bobby Moak but didn’t reach voting at all. He tried in 2015 once more, but the Senate turned down his Mississippi Lawful Internet Gambling Act.

Till the Magnolia State officially legalizes online gambling, locals’ best option remains offshore websites. These platforms do pose a risk, though, because they’re not licensed in the country. Instead, these companies operate outside America and are not subject to the same laws and standards. However, each of the best US online casinos from our listing is checked and holds valid licenses to operate in the country. Stick to proven platforms, especially when looking for real money destinations, as any other sites might be harmful.

Mississippi Gambling Laws – The Future

Gambling in MS has been a changing landscape. Data privacy and online gambling have seen a lot of progressive development over the past decade. We can expect a future where the continuous pace of technological advancement might force government authorities to amend existing Mississippi gambling laws accordingly. The Mississippi Gaming Commission monitors other states and adjusts their regulatory landscape as needed. That is similar to what all other commissions in the country do. Basically, more progressive changes in other states are likely to positively impact the same law adjustments in Mississippi.

Gambling Laws in Mississippi FAQ

Mississippi gambling laws change, and there are always some queries on the topic. We did try to add all vital data in the article. At the end of our MS state gambling laws overview, we would like to showcase the most popular Q&A, inspired by what players have to say regarding the subject. We hope to be helpful in your Magnolia State gaming adventure.

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