Legal Sports Betting For Mississippi Residents In 2023
With a favorable position towards gambling in general, Mississippi does allow and offer state sponsored opportunities to enjoy various types of gambling. Sports betting in Mississippi however is a whole different story, and this guide does address the legalities surrounding this industry and what options MS residents can take advantage of. This guide also has a section dedicated to betting on football in Mississippi, including a look at legal betting sites and what MS football teams are covered in their betting lines. The objective we had for creating this site was to develop a comprehensive resource guide for Mississippi residents who want to make informed decisions concerning their participation in legal online sportsbook wagering. It was created by professional sports bettors who want to just lay it all out, from one bettor to another. It is not our intention to make any decisions for you, but rather to provide you with all relevant information so that you are able to knowledgeably make the best possible choices when you enjoy in this type of gambling entertainment.
Top Mississippi Legal Online Sports Betting Sites
Following are our recommendations for legally licensed, regulated and reliable Mississippi online sports betting sites. Each of them has been thoroughly reviewed by our team and found to exceed industry standards at every turn.
| Sportsbook Name And Link | Bonus Offer | USA Accepted |
|---|---|---|
| Bovada Sportsboook | 50% Up To $250 Free | Yes |
| Betonline Sportsbook | 50% Up To $1000 | Yes |
| Sportsbetting.ag | 50% Up To $1000 | Yes |
| Bookmaker Sportsbook | 15% Up To $2500 | Yes |
Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Mississippi?
The one venue you will not see physically represented in the Magnolia State is sportsbook wagering. Existing Mississippi sports betting does not consist of any US based options at this time. This is due to the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act that was established in 1992, effectively outlawing any type of sports betting inside US borders with the exception of a few select destinations that already had legal sports gambling options and therefore were grandfathered in as an exception to the law. Mississippi was not one of the exceptions to this law. As warm and fuzzy as Mississippians feel towards gambling, the state is unable to supersede existing federal laws which ban US based sports betting. This does not mean that Mississippi residents do not have any options at their disposal. There are multiple offshore Internet sportsbooks that are legally licensed and certified to offer their services to sports bettors in MS. Because they are located and regulated outside of the United States, they are not subject to the PASPA law or the Federal Wire Act, and can therefore legally provide sports betting services to US bettors, Including those residing in or visiting Mississippi. Neither MS bettors or the sports books themselves are in violation of US federal laws in this situation. There are also no state laws prohibiting residents from participating in legally licensed offshore sports betting. So to answer the original question, it is perfectly legal to bet on sports in Mississippi as long as the wagering is done at a sports betting site that is legally licensed, compliance certified, and subject to strict regulatory oversight from a governing jurisdiction outside of the US. If you would like to check the state's laws out for yourself, you can visit the Mississippi State Legislature to read the statutes in their original context.
What is the Legal Gambling Age in Mississippi?
The legal minimum gambling age in the state of Mississippi is 21 years of age. This applies to all gambling venues across the board. You will notice that some online sportsbooks accepting Mississippi players offer a minimum age of 18 to participate, however this would violate state laws and would possibly land the participant in legal trouble with law enforcement. We strongly recommend that all bettors adhere to the state's legal gambling age of 21.
When Will Mississippi Add State Sponsored Sports Betting to Their Gambling Industry?
With the range of gambling options in the state of Mississippi, many gamblers are surprised to not find sports betting options among them. We suggest that you don't hold your breath in hopes of seeing this segment of the gambling arena emerge in MS. The PASPA law is being enforced here in the US, with sports betting opponents closely watching to ensure the sportsbook wagering industry does not expand. Some of those opposing watchdogs include the NFL, NBA, MLB and NCAA. That is some very strong opposition with a well armed arsenal of influence and financial resources to fight anyone trying to foster the expansion of sports betting in the United States. We do not expect to see Mississippi add sports betting to their line-up anytime soon.
Trends to Watch for Mississippi's Sports Teams
The Mississippi State Bulldogs
Prior to earning their #1 ranking last year in NCF, the Bulldogs had never previously been the top-ranked team in the nation. In fact, playing in the SEC alongside Alabama, Auburn, LSU, and in-state rivals Ole Miss, the Bulldogs were thought of as a bottom rung team. However, with Dak Prescott at the helm in Miss. State, the Bulldogs are a high-flying, fast-paced team in college football that can play with anyone. They finished the season 10-3, falling off near the end, but they were great to start.
They beat Southern Miss, UAB, South Alabama, LSU, A&M, Auburn, Kentucky, Arkansas and Tennessee in consecutive weeks. They were the #1 team going into Tuscaloosa to play Alabama. They lost that game and dropped to #4, but they beat Vanderbilt the next week and only had to get through Ole Miss to make it to the playoff. Unfortunately, in the Egg Bowl, Mississippi's game of rivals, Ole Miss won and the Bulldogs had to play Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl, which the Bulldogs lost.
The Bulldogs were 7-6 ATS (against the spread), while actually clearing a record of 3-0 as underdogs. Their conference games got the best of them, and they finished the year 10-3. We expect a more potent Miss. State offense this season, and we can see a solid 8-5 ATS record for the Bulldogs.
The Ole Miss Rebels
The Rebels of Ole Miss are not to be trifled with. Just when you think they're an okay team, they end up beating Alabama, the top-ranked team in the nation, and mow through other SEC teams like they're playing varsity vs. JV. But as impressive as Ole Miss's season was, they actually didn't do that well for gamblers. ATS, they were only 7-5, and after a win they were only 5-3. They were also 4-4-1 as favorites (the third number in these equations being a "push," where no one wins), and 1-2 after a loss while going 0-2 after a bye.
Ole Miss is a streak team, that's what we learn about them. When they're winning, they typically keep it going. After a bye or any type of rest, they don't seem to do that well. This season, which started last week (second week of September), we can see Ole Miss improving on their ATS by about two games, and actually going 80% as favorites.
This won't be a drastic turnaround, but the Rebels will be kinder to gamblers this season – at least that's our prediction.