Although not every location with legalized gambling is as infamous as Vegas, many states do now permit gaming to varying degrees, usually highly regulated by a state agency. Mississippi legalized gaming in 1990, and has since become famous for the cruise vessel casinos on the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi Band of Choctaws also operates the Pearl River Resort with casino gambling in Choctaw, MS.
Gaming is regulated by the Mississippi Gaming Commission and is taxed to provide revenue for various state programs, such as education, housing, transportation, and health care. The following chart details the Mississippi gambling laws.
| Code Sections | Mississippi Code Title 75, Chapter 76: Mississippi Gaming Control Act, Title 87, Chapter 1: Gambling & Futures Contracts, and Title 97, Chapter 33: Gambling & Lotteries Mississippi Gaming Regulations (Administrative) |
| Gambling | Gambling is betting on games or encouraging any game, other than a dog fight, for money or other valuable thing. Unless done in a permitted manner, it’s illegal. |
| Horse Racing or Off-Track Betting | Mississippi prohibits horse races and betting on horse races elsewhere, unless it’s on a legal cruise ship casino. |
| Dog Racing or Off-Track Betting | Dog racing and off-track betting isn’t specific in the gambling act, however, there are no dog racetracks in Mississippi. In addition, dog fighting is prohibited by the Mississippi Criminal Code. |
| Casinos | Yes, Mississippi has licensed, regulated casinos in counties where the voters approved them. The casinos are in the form of cruise vessels allowed on Mississippi River or waters within any county bordering the river in which voters have approved gambling. There are also Native American tribe owned casinos. |
| Other Kinds of Gambling-Related Activities Allowed or Banned | Mississippi permits bingo for charities, but lots of gambling is banned, including: cockfights, stick ball (a traditional Native American game), duels, raffles, gambling devices, gaming tables, yacht races, shooting matches, etc. Also, where gambling is legal, such as the riverboat casinos, minors aren’t allowed any gambling privileges. |
If you have more questions about gaming laws, such as wanting a fuller understanding of the taxation implications or to see about changing the law in your county, you may want to speak with an experienced Mississippi gaming lawyer. If you recently won big money while gambling in Mississippi, you should speak to an estate planning lawyer in your area.
Note: State laws are updated frequently, be sure to contact an attorney or conduct your own legal research to confirm the currentness of these gambling laws.
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