Online Casinos in Mississippi

The Regulator Says Online Casino Games Are Illegal in Mississippi

Mississippi has a substantial casino industry and almost nothing that may lawfully be played online for money. Its regulator puts both halves of that on the record. On what is illegal, the Mississippi Gaming Commission writes: "For example, sports wagering not conducted in a casino is illegal (online and mobile sports wagering apps are illegal), online casino games are illegal, bingo played for money outside of a licensed bingo hall is illegal, raffles conducted by a person or entity that is not a nonprofit or conducted for a purpose not listed above are illegal." On the advertising a Mississippi reader is likely to see, it adds: "There are many companies that promote illegal games online or through mobile applications that say they are legal to play. This is not true, and any casino game or sports wagering conducted online where money is paid and won, is illegal."

The statutory basis is the state's criminal code: "Mississippi criminal statutes beginning at Miss. Code Ann. § 97-33-1 make it a crime to wager or bet on any type of game or to promote such wagering." And the Commission sets out the test the courts apply: "Mississippi case law establishes that wagering constitutes playing a game that: 1) requires consideration/payment; 2) has an element of chance; and 3) has the potential to win a reward in the form of anything of value." This site does not point readers at operators that are not licensed where they are.

Neither Online Casino nor Online Sports Betting Is Licensed

Mississippi belongs to the group of states that license neither vertical online, which makes it different from most of its neighbours. What is lawful is tied to a floor: "Most any gambling game can be played on a casino floor if the casino is licensed by the MS Gaming Commission, including wagering on sporting events. (97-33-1, et seq. & 75-76-1, et seq.)" Tribal gaming sits alongside that — "Gaming and sports wagering at a casino operated by the MS Band of Choctaw Indians." — on its own legal footing, which is not a state online licence.

The single online exception is fantasy contests: "Fantasy sports contests may be played online or in person as long as the game is conducted by a fantasy contest operator licensed by the MS Gaming Commission. (97-33-301, et seq.)" That is a licence for fantasy contests and nothing else. The Commission is explicit about the consequences of ignoring the position: "The companies offering them, and the players may be subject to prosecution. You may report any such activity to the MS Gaming Commission."

Sweepstakes Casinos: Why No Status Is Recorded

The Commission's statement that any casino game conducted online where money is paid and won is illegal comes close to the dual-currency model, but it does not name it, and the whole legal argument advanced for sweepstakes products turns on the free-entry route that the Commission's wording does not address. No Mississippi statute, regulation or official statement addressing online sweepstakes casinos specifically was found for this page, so no sweepstakes status is recorded rather than one being read into a sentence written about a different product. Sweepstakes casinos and real-money casinos are separate products and neither is presented here as a licensed version of the other.

Who Regulates

The Commission describes its own founding purpose this way: "The Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC) was established to “ensure the integrity of the State of Mississippi and maintain the public confidence in the gaming industry.”" It also describes the industry it grew up with: "From the beginning, the MGC worked to establish a strong but fair regulatory environment in the midst of the “Mississippi Miracle” which transformed quiet Coastal and River counties into some of America’s premier gaming destinations." It publishes a list of cease and desist letters issued to illegal operators, and it runs a voluntary self-exclusion programme.