Online Sports Betting in Mississippi

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When most people from the United States hear the word “Mississippi,” they think the same thing. In their heads, they immediately go about spelling it. “M-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i” is something that we’re taught when learning the names of each of the 50 United States as children. Beyond that, Mississippi is a fascinating state with a rich history.

Mississippi

Known as both “The Magnolia State” and “The Hospitality State,” MS was the 20th state. Considered part of the Deep South, it was the first of the United States to grow cotton. It’s also the home to Blues music, one of the most popular music genres in the country.

The name “Mississippi” means “Large River,” and the state treats fishing very seriously. It’s actually the catfishing capital of the country.

Lastly, the first settlers of MS were French, and as a result, the state motto was in French, not English.

Legal Sports Betting in Mississippi

From a sports betting perspective, Mississippi is legal and live, with the caveat being you must be physically located at one of the in-state casinos. Mississippi has 28 sportsbooks (!!!) in operation, but surprisingly only two online sportsbook apps.

While sports betting has been legal in Mississippi since August 2018, bettors must be physically located on casino grounds to place any and all wagers. Yes, while unfortunate, you cannot be found anywhere to place a bet, even when doing so online. This means that you could download, for example, the BetMGM sportsbook app from the comfort of your home, but you’d only be able to place wagers while at an associated casino.

BetMGM is the lone major online sportsbook that offers promos in Mississippi, and only two casinos in the state where you can use BetMGM’s app.

Using BetMGM at Beau Rivage or Pearl River is your only real option. Pearl River offers mobile sports betting options at any of its three casinos (Bok Homa, Golden Moon, and Silver Star).

Retail Sportsbooks in Mississippi

While there aren’t many mobile options, a wide swath of casinos in Mississippi that offer sports betting, along with the occasional company running its sportsbook, you can find a list of Casinos + Sportsbook Partners below.

Some Interesting Facts about Mississippi

  1. There is no maximum for how much you can bet on a single game or event in Mississippi.
  2. The rebuilt Mississippi Gulf Coast region – largely destroyed in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina – is the nation’s third-largest casino market.
  3. Root beer was invented in Mississippi.
  4. The teddy bear (as a product) was created in Mississippi after President Roosevelt refused to shoot a captive bear in 1902.
  5. Jackson, Mississippi, is one of only four cities in the entire world to be sanctioned by the International Theatre-Dance Committee to host the International Ballet Competition. The other three cities are all non-US based (Moscow, Varna, and Helsinki).
  6. While invented elsewhere, Coca-Cola was only available as a fountain drink until it was first bottled in 1894 in Mississippi.
  7. Around 60% of the country’s farm-raised catfish comes from Mississippi. The state even has a Catfish museum honoring the unofficial state hero.
  8. A year after the conclusion of the American Civil War, women in Columbus decorated fallen soldiers’ graves with Flowers in Friendship Cemetery. As a direct result of this, Americans came to observe Memorial Day to honor the lives and deaths of fallen soldiers.
  9. One of the oldest games in American history is stickball, invented by the Choctaw Indians of Mississippi as far back as 1729.
  10. The oldest known book in America is an ancient Biblical manuscript located at the University of Mississippi.

Popular Sports in Mississippi

Like most Southern states, Mississippi residents grow up as fanatics of American football. While there aren’t any professional football teams (or major pro teams in any sport), Mississippi treats football like religion. And the state has a favorite football team.

The University of Mississippi Rebels (more commonly known as Ole Miss) is the most popular program in the state by a wide margin. The Rebels, while constantly competitive in the SEC football conference, haven’t won a national championship since 1960. The Mississippi State Bulldogs aren’t quite as competitive consistently, but they also have a solid following.

Popular Sports Teams in Mississippi

Walter Payton

Regarding the nearest pro teams, the Northern part of Mississippi borders Tennessee, which has teams in Memphis and Nashville. The southern part of the state borders Louisiana, home to several New Orleans franchises. Furthermore, several Mississippi residents even find fandom in Texan teams. Those teams can be found below.

  • New Orleans Saints (NFL)
  • Tennessee Titans (NFL)
  • Dallas Cowboys (NFL)
  • Memphis Grizzlies (NBA)
  • New Orleans Pelicans (NBA)
  • Nashville Predators (NHL)

College Sports in Mississippi

Mississippi is home to six Division 1 collegiate program. The two major programs are Mississippi State (Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs) and the Ole Miss Rebels. The four other programs include the Alcorn State Braves and Lady Braves; the Jackson State Tigers and Lady Tigers; the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils and Devilettes; and the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles and Lady Eagles.

While Ole Miss and Mississippi State were discussed above, Jackson State rose to prominence in the college athletics space in recent years due to former Head Coach and NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders. One of the best defensive backs of all time, Sanders spent three seasons as the HC at Jackson State, going 27-6 (with two Bowl Game losses). Jackson State’s popularity exploded during Sanders’ time at the team’s helm. As a historically black university (HBCU), top football recruits typically didn’t attend. Sanders managed to recruit defensive back Travis Hunter to the program, becoming the first number one overall recruit to commit to an HBCU. Hunter has since transferred to the University of Colorado, where Sanders coaches today.

Famous Athletes from Mississippi

As a football powerhouse state, Mississippi has a long history of talented NFL players coming through. That said, there are quite a few legendary athletes from the “Magnolia State.”

jake gibbs Mississippi

  • Walter Payton: “Sweetness” is one of the best running backs in NFL history. A Super Bowl Champion and NFL MVP, Payton was a 5x First-Team All-Pro and 9x Pro Bowler who was enshrined in both the college football and pro football Hall of Fame. In four seasons at Jackson State, he accumulated 3,600 rushing yards and 63 touchdowns while kicking 53 extra points and making five field goals.
  • Jerry Rice: “World” is the greatest wide receiver in NFL history. He holds numerous NFL records and is a 3x Super Bowl Champion, Super Bowl MVP, and 10x First-Team All-Pro. He holds NFL records for career receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns, and all-purpose yards.
  • Brett Favre: A gunslinger of a QB, Favre is a Pro Football Hall of Famer who began his career as a QB at the University of Southern Mississippi. An NFL Iron Man, he recorded 297 consecutive starts (321 including playoffs) – an NFL record that is unlikely to be broken anytime soon. A Super Bowl Champion, 3x NFL MVP, 11x Pro Bowler, and multiple NFL record holders, Favre is one of the best quarterbacks of all time.
  • Jake Gibbs: While he had an unremarkable career for the New York Yankees, Gibbs attended Ole Miss, where he played quarterback and baseball. During his senior season at Ole Miss, the team won the 1961 Sugar Bowl. As a result, they were recognized as the college football National Champions. Gibbs scored both touchdowns in that game and was named SEC Football Player of the Year.
  • L.C. Greenwood: Raised in Canton, Mississippi, Greenwood was a feared defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers. With 78 career sacks and 14 career fumble recoveries, he was a member of the vaunted “Steel Curtain” defense.

Responsible Gambling in Mississippi

Don’t hesitate to reach out for guidance in your state, including counseling, treatment, self-help, and support group. Here is the contact for the National Problem Gambling Helpline:

Call: 1-800-GAMBLER
Chat: www.1800gamblerchat.org

Here is also information about the Mississippi Council on Problem and Compulsive Gambling:

Tel: 601-853-8351
Email: mcpcg@netdoor.com
Website: www.msgambler.org
Helpline: 888-777-9696

Catie Di Stefano

Catie Di Stefano has worked in the gambling industry since 2011 for major brands like Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Gaming Innovation Group and Betsson Group. She started in customer support at age 19 and has since worked her way through VIP, CRM and Marketing. Today, Catie is passionate about educating players on consumer rights and the best approaches for legal play in the United States as the Director of Community Marketing at OnlineGamblers.com. Catie was born in Indonesia but grew up in Sweden. Currently, she resides in Spain with her two daughters.