Mississippi, or the “Magnolia State”, may not be home to any professional sports franchises, but it is home to the sprawling Mississippi River. There are also two schools that play in the SEC including Mississippi State and Ole Miss. Local sports fans can bet on their favorite teams through the use of some online sportsbooks that we’ve pinpointed in this guide. Sports betting in Mississippi has several laws to consider when attempting to participate. This guide, specifically created for Mississippi residents, will inform you about relevant gambling laws and restrictions that impact your betting opportunities, as well as show you which sportsbooks are safe and legally sanctioned to use.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Mississippi?
The answer to this question is a resounding yes and no. It really depends on what kind of sports betting you are referring to. It is currently not legal to own or operate any type of brick and mortar or online sportsbook within the state of Mississippi. Federal laws have combined to effectively ban all online and offline state based sports betting within the state. However, there is a silver lining here. None of the federal laws that govern gambling in the US prohibit Mississippi residents from engaging in sports wagering as long as the destination at which you are betting is a legally licensed and regulated sportsbook that is operating legitimately outside of the United States. So as long as you are participating in legally sanctioned offshore sports betting, you are not in violation of any US gambling laws.
Most Reputable Mississippi Online Sportsbooks
These sportsbooks that make up the list below have passed our thorough inspection and proven to be the best options for Mississippi bettors. Our inspection found they are reliable betting destinations with all the proper licensing, certifications and regulations to make them legitimate businesses. They also have top-notch security practices that keep your personal and financial information safe. These sportsbooks accept Mississippi bettors and offer a premier sports betting experience similar to the one you’d find in Las Vegas.
| Logo | Site Name | Bonus | Rating | USA | Visit Site |
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Betonline Sportsbook | 50% Max $2500 |  |
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Sportsbetting | 75% Max $1000 | |
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Bovada Sportsbook | 50% Max $250 | |
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How State and Federal Laws Regulate Sports Betting in Mississippi
There are several federal laws in the US that have to do with sports betting. These are the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), the Federal Wire Act and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). Together these laws regulate US-based sports betting on the federal level. Most states do not bother including any references to sports betting within their state constitution or penal code because the feds have already taken care of things on that front. If state lawmakers attempted to legalize any type of state regulated sports betting entertainment, it would be in direct violation of federal laws.
PASPA outlaws Nevada-style betting in 46 states. Mississippi is one of these states. The only four states allowed to have some form of sports betting are Oregon, Montana, Delaware and Nevada. These four states are only allowed to licensed sportsbook gambling because they already had some type of legalized sports betting in place at the time of PASPA’s passing in 1992. The Federal Wire Act restricts the placing of online bets with US-based sportsbooks and the UIGEA monitors banks and the transactions processed as a result of online gambling.. However, the federal and Mississippi state laws in place say nothing about betting through an offshore sportsbook like the ones we’ve suggested. These sportsbooks are all legally sanctioned and used to dealing with US bettors.
Will Mississippi Make Sports Betting Legal Anytime Soon?
Unfortunately, state lawmakers could not legalize sports betting even if they wanted to. This is because there are already US federal laws in place that prohibit this form of US based gambling entertainment. Either traveling to Las Vegas or visiting legally licensed and regulated offshore sportsbooks are your only options at this point. If PASPA and the Federal Wire Act are ever repealed or drastically modified, then there is always a chance, but until then, we recommend you don’t hold your breath.
Popular Sports Teams To Bet On In Mississippi
Mississippi is a football town. Mississippi State University and Ole Miss are the two SEC in-state rivals. Ole Miss is the stronger of the two, but they both are strong competitors in a tough conference.
Popular College Sports Teams in Mississippi
Mississippi State University Bulldogs
University of Mississippi Ole Miss Rebels
FAQs About Betting On Sports
Is It Safe To Use Offshore Sportsbooks Accepting Mississippi Residents?
Yes. These sportsbooks operate outside the jurisdiction of Mississippi state and US federal laws. They are legally licensed and regulated and are used to servicing US customers. They employ advanced data encryption, a secure environment for their servers, antivirus and firewall protection as well as sophisticated fraud prevention. The security profiles at our featured sportsbooks rival those at world class financial institutions and always exceed minimum licensing requirements. Unless you want to move to Las Vegas or take a chance placing a bet with an illegal bookie, these sportsbooks are your best bet.
What Types Of Sports Can I Bet On?
These sportsbooks offer betting lines on most sports including football, basketball, hockey, baseball, soccer, tennis, boxing, racing and much much more. You can bet on professional league games and even NCAA games (heads up Mississippi State and Ole Miss fans). You can also bet on international sports and teams that include both professional and amateur leagues.
How Do I Place A Bet?
In order to place a bet you have to first register for an account and deposit money into it. You can browse the betting lines before placing your bet, but you need funds in your account to officially bet. You place a bet by simply clicking on the betting line that you want to wager on and selecting how much you’d like to risk. Your bet slip, which is a way of tracking your bets made and what you stand to win, will pop up in the top right corner of the screen. All bets are considered final.
Do I Have To Use A Credit/Debit Card?
No. You can deposit money in several ways including wire transfers through services like MoneyGram and Western Union, cashier’s checks, prepaid cards, among others. You can use your credit/debit card if you’d like to. Keep in mind that in most cases your payout method is dependent on the deposit method you chose.
What Types of Bets Are Available?
The sportsbooks in this guide offer all types of betting lines. You can bet on the point spread, total (over/under), money line, propositional bets, future bets, parlay bets and more. Different sportsbooks have different odds so be sure to browse your options.
What Is A Money Line Bet?
The money line, also known as “American Odds,” is a way of betting that has you bet on a winner outright without regard for the point spread. For example, the New England Patriots could be favored to win against the Atlanta Falcons at (-250). The negative sign tells you they’re the favored team while the number tells you how much you have to bet to win $100. The Falcons would be the underdogs to win at (+150). The plus tells you that they’re the underdog while the number tells you how much you stand to win if you bet $100.
Do These Sites Offer Any Types Of Bonuses, Promotions or Incentives?
Yes. These sportsbooks offer many extras in the form of bonuses, which are essentially “free money” for you to bet with. There are introductory bonuses when you first sign up, promotional and seasonal bonuses and more. Bonuses roll in all year long as these sportsbooks use them to retain your business. The bonuses are most often structured as a match deposit offer, which means the betting site agrees to match a certain percentage of your deposit.
What Kinds Of Features Are Available At Offshore Sportsbooks?
The brands recommended in this guide all offer advanced features and functionality including mobile betting apps, live betting, live in play betting, and often live streaming of certain events. They utilize a live chat function to give customers access to customer support 24/7, and provide valuable team, player and game information through their articles portals.