Mississippi Casinos, Sweepstakes and Gambling

Sweepstakes and Social Casinos in Mississippi

Sweepstakes casinos remain technically accessible in Mississippi, though the regulatory environment has become more hostile. The Mississippi Gaming Commission actively considers sweepstakes casino-style gaming to be illegal under existing law, and legislators have made two consecutive attempts to pass an explicit ban.

Sweepstakes Casinos — Currently Accessible

All of our recommended platforms are currently available to Mississippi players, though availability may change as the legal environment continues to evolve:

• MegaBonanza: Our top pick for Mississippi. Large slots catalogue, generous daily offers, and a polished free-entry model.
• Crown Coins: A well-regarded sweepstakes casino with a strong game library and smooth redemption process.
• Spree: A growing platform with a clean no-purchase entry model.
• WOW Vegas: Over 1,000 slots plus live dealer games.
• Free Spin Casino: A solid option with a wide variety of slot titles.
• American Luck: A US-focused platform with regular promotional offers.
• Fortune Coins: Popular for its large game library and strong VIP programme.

Social Casinos — The Safe Alternative

• 7 Seas Casino: Free-to-play Vegas-style slots. No prizes, no purchase.
• Vegas World: Free slots, poker, and table games in a lively social environment.
• Casino World: A broad range of free social casino games.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Mississippi?

They are in a contested grey area. The Mississippi Gaming Commission treats them as illegal under existing law and issued a cease-and-desist to Chumba Casino in June 2025. The Senate passed a ban bill (SB 2104) unanimously in February 2026, but it died in the House for the second consecutive year. Many sweepstakes platforms voluntarily exited Mississippi following the 2025 enforcement action; others remain. Use social casinos for the clearest legal option.

Is sports betting legal in Mississippi?

Partially. Mississippi legalised retail sports betting in 2018 — the third state to do so after PASPA's repeal. However, wagering is restricted to the physical premises of licensed casinos. You must be physically present on casino property to use sportsbook apps or kiosks. Statewide mobile sports betting (allowing bets from anywhere in Mississippi) has been proposed repeatedly but has failed every session. HB 1581 and several other mobile sports betting bills all died in the 2026 session. Until statewide mobile is legalised, Mississippi sports bettors must visit a licensed casino.

Are there casinos in Mississippi?

Yes — Mississippi is one of the major casino states in the South, with 26 licensed commercial casinos. The two primary gaming corridors are the Gulf Coast (Biloxi, Gulfport, and D'Iberville) and the Mississippi River (Tunica, Vicksburg, Natchez). The Gulf Coast is now the dominant market, accounting for over 60% of statewide casino revenue. The Tunica market in northwest Mississippi has declined significantly due to competition from Arkansas casinos and the closure of multiple properties.

Does Mississippi have a state lottery?

Yes. The Mississippi Lottery was created by the "Alyce G. Clarke Mississippi Lottery Law" signed in August 2018, with ticket sales launching in November 2019. The lottery generated $444.4 million in gross ticket sales in FY2025. Mississippi was one of the later US states to establish a lottery — the original article incorrectly stated there was "yet a state lottery to be established."

Is online casino gaming legal in Mississippi?

No. Online casino gaming and online poker are not legalised in Mississippi. Sports betting via mobile is restricted to on-premises casino use only. The Mississippi Gaming Commission and state law prohibit internet-based gambling operations. Mississippi's land-based casino industry has historically lobbied against online expansion due to cannibalisation concerns, but declining revenues are increasing pressure for change.

What responsible gambling resources are available in Mississippi?

The Mississippi Council on Problem and Compulsive Gambling operates a confidential helpline at 1-888-777-9696, available 24/7. The website is at msgambler.org. The National Problem Gambling Helpline is available at 1-800-522-4700, 24/7. The Mississippi Gaming Commission operates a self-exclusion programme at msgamingcommission.com.

Mississippi Gambling Laws and the MGC

Mississippi gambling is regulated by the Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC), which oversees all 26 commercial casino licences under the Mississippi Gaming Control Act of 1990. The MGC also regulates sports betting at licensed casino properties and DFS. A separate body, the Mississippi Lottery Corporation, manages the state lottery.

The Mississippi Gaming Control Act restricted casino gambling to counties along the Gulf Coast and the Mississippi River — a geographic limitation that created the concentrated casino corridors in Biloxi and Tunica. All Mississippi casinos are commercial; there is only one tribal gaming operation (Pearl River Resort, operated by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians).

Sports betting was authorised under legislation signed in 2018, with the first bets placed at retail sportsbooks in August 2018. The framework requires bettors to be on casino property — an unusual and restrictive design that has limited the sports betting market's growth. Mississippi generated $41.6 million in sports betting revenue in 2024, down 18.8% from the prior year — a reflection of the on-premises constraint.

Mississippi Gambling History

Gambling has been part of Mississippi's culture for centuries. Native American tribes — particularly the Choctaw, Chickasaw, and others — had strong traditions of wagering on games including stickball (ishtaboli). European and African settlers brought cards, billiards, and horse racing when Mississippi was a Spanish territory in the 1790s, and horse racing was among the earliest formalised gambling activities after statehood in 1817.

Gambling flourished in Mississippi throughout the 19th century, particularly along the riverboat routes of the Mississippi River and the entertainment districts of Biloxi. A notable reversal came in 1950, when the Biloxi Protestant Ministerial Association successfully campaigned against gambling operations, leading to widespread machine confiscations. The remaining gambling clubs in Biloxi were devastated by Hurricane Camille in 1969.

The transformation came in 1990, when Mississippi passed the Mississippi Gaming Control Act — a landmark piece of legislation that authorised casino gambling in counties along the Gulf Coast or the Mississippi River. The act required casinos to be on or over water (riverboats), but Mississippi's interpretation was broadly permissive — anchored barges, permanently docked vessels, and even structures built over land with minimal water contact qualified. The first casinos opened in 1992, and by the mid-1990s Mississippi had established one of the largest casino industries in the South.

Tunica, in northwest Mississippi, briefly became the third-largest gaming market in the US in the 1990s — drawing visitors from Memphis and the broader Mid-South region. At its peak, Tunica had ten casinos with 14,000 slot machines. Competition from Arkansas casinos (which expanded dramatically after 2018), combined with broader market trends, accelerated Tunica's decline: Harrah's closed in 2014, multiple properties followed, and Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall closed in late 2025 — leaving five casinos in the market.

Sports betting was legalised in 2018, making Mississippi one of the first states to act after PASPA's repeal. The Mississippi Lottery launched in November 2019 after the "Alyce G. Clarke Mississippi Lottery Law" was signed in August 2018.

Land-Based Casinos in Mississippi

Mississippi's 26 commercial casinos are concentrated in two areas: the Gulf Coast and the Mississippi River corridor.

Gulf Coast — Mississippi's Dominant Casino Market

The Gulf Coast accounts for over 60% of Mississippi's casino revenue, anchored by the resort cluster around Biloxi, Gulfport, and D'Iberville:

• Beau Rivage Resort and Casino (Biloxi): Operated by MGM Resorts International. 72,000 square feet of gaming space, a luxury hotel, marina, and multiple restaurants. One of the premier resort casinos on the Gulf Coast, rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina and reopened in 2006.
• Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Biloxi: Opened 2007; 1,400+ slot machines, 50+ table games, Hard Rock Live entertainment venue, and signature rock memorabilia throughout.
• Golden Nugget Biloxi: A popular mid-tier resort casino on the waterfront.
• Harrah's Gulf Coast (Biloxi): Part of the Caesars network.
• Pearl River Resort (Choctaw): The only tribal gaming resort in Mississippi, owned by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Comprises Silver Star Hotel and Casino and Golden Moon Hotel and Casino. Pearl River also has a sportsbook through a DraftKings partnership and has expanded with additional smaller venues including the Crystal Sky Travel Plaza (opened December 2024).

Tunica — A Market in Decline

The Tunica area in northwest Mississippi was once a booming casino destination but has contracted sharply due to Arkansas competition and consumer shifts. The market has approximately five operating casinos as of early 2026, including Gold Strike Casino Resort (acquired by Cherokee Nation Businesses from MGM in 2022 for $450 million), Hollywood Casino Tunica, and Horseshoe Casino Tunica (Caesars).

Vicksburg and the River Region

Casinos along the Mississippi River in Vicksburg and other river towns include Ameristar Casino Hotel Vicksburg and other commercial properties in the lower river region.

Responsible Gambling in Mississippi

• Mississippi Council on Problem and Compulsive Gambling: Helpline at 1-888-777-9696, available 24/7; website at msgambler.org.
• Mississippi Gaming Commission Self-Exclusion: Voluntary self-exclusion from all licensed Mississippi casinos; registration at msgamingcommission.com.
• National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700, available 24/7 by phone, text, and live chat.

References

1. Mississippi Gaming Commission
2. Mississippi Lottery
3. Online gambling: are players at risk of prosecution?
4. American Gaming Association