Online Gambling License in Mississippi

The Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC) is the primary regulatory agency responsible for monitoring and regulating gambling in the State of Mississippi. The Commission became an independent regulator in 1993 and has since adjusted to the changing gambling landscape in the state. Its primary task is to create fair legal standards for patrons and gambling providers.

The MGC consists of three commissioners, a 12-member senior staff, and an executive director. The Commission meets monthly to discuss gaming and other matters of interest. Meanwhile, the Mississippi Lottery Corporation and the Mississippi Lottery Corporation Board of Directors are in charge of lottery-related gaming in The Magnolia State.

Among its main roles, the MGC is responsible for licensing and regulating eligible applicants, i.e., organizations that seek to promote gambling services and games of chance. Speaking generally, the MGC’s mission is to ensure licensed operators and applicants comply with provisions set out in the Mississippi Gaming Control Act and the Charitable Gaming Law.

Types of Gambling Regulated by the Mississippi Gaming Commission

The commission takes care of several types of gambling.

Casino Gaming

Mississippi’s Gaming Control Act allows eligible establishments to apply for a license to provide gambling-related services. Approved licensees must abide by strict regulatory practices, such as providing financial reports and audits of financial statements, among many other terms and requirements laid out by the MGC. Infringement on the license terms will likely result in the revocation of all licenses.

Mississippi is currently home to several MGC-approved and licensed brick-and-mortar casinos. The Gold Strike Tunica Hotel and Casino and Isle Casino Hotel Lula Mississippi, are just a couple of noteworthy destinations. The variety of games the Commission permits ranges from card and table games (roulette, poker, blackjack, baccarat), to slot machines, keno, and craps, among other options.

Charitable Gaming

The Mississippi Gaming Commission’s Division on Charitable Gaming (Bingo) is responsible for the non-profit charitable gaming segment. The regulations are outlined in the Charitable Gaming Law of 1972, Title 97 (Chapter 33). Organizations can organize and host bingo games only for charitable purposes.

To organize charitable bingo, the organization must submit a specifically designated application to the Commission, an application fee, and copies of state and federal tax returns going back three years. The application fee is $50. There is a whole list of other fees the charitable organization must pay, including $50 per machine owned by the group (monthly), a license fee of 2.5% of the proceeds from electronic pull tabs, a fee of 1% of bingo proceeds (per session), and more.

Racing Betting and Sports Pool

A person or organization must get approval from the Commission’s Executive Director to offer sports pools or horse and greyhound racebooks. This mainly applies to brick-and-mortar casino operators, who must hold the proper license to offer a racebook or sports pool within their establishment.

Moreover, third-party organizations or entities that have a business contract with the racing and sports pool license holder must get a manufacturer’s/distributor’s license from the MGC to provide technical assistance or other services. The racing license permits betting on athletic events in addition to horse racing and greyhounds.

Betting is allowed on a range of pre-approved leagues and sports, including:

• NBA
• NFL
• MLB
• WNBA
• College Football
• College Basketball
• Boxing
• Tennis
• Cycling
• Golf
• Handball
• NASCAR
• Rugby
• Soccer

Note: Proposition (prop) bets on individual players in NCAA games are prohibited.

Fantasy Contests

Fantasy betting on pre-approved contests is also legal in Mississippi. In order for an establishment to offer Fantasy Contests, the operator must be vetted and recommended by an independent testing agency licensed by the Mississippi Gaming Commission. The operator can collect “entry fees” from participants in fantasy betting contests.

The Commission defines fantasy contests as events where participants use skill to predict outcomes of real athletes in sports games. To offer legal fantasy betting, the licensed operator must pay an 8% fee of its net earnings to the Mississippi Department of Revenue.

Mississippi Gaming Commission Regulatory Framework

The Mississippi Gaming Commission’s regulatory framework is firmly based on protecting the integrity of all legal forms of gaming in accordance with the Gaming Control Act and Charitable Gaming Law of the Mississippi Code.

Based on this framework, the Commission’s responsibilities include performing occasional audits and reviews of the licensees’ operations and recommending changes to licensees’ internal operations. At its discretion, the Commission can conduct audits and investigations to check if license holders work according to the Gaming Control Act and other gaming-related regulations.

The Mississippi Code prohibits online gaming and sports betting. However, you can bet on sports in-person (retail) but only at establishments (casinos) affiliated with the relevant online sportsbook.

Not to mention, gaming license applicants must pay various fees, including a $5,000 application fee and a $5,000 annual license fee, as per the Mississippi Department of Revenue.

FAQs about The Mississippi Gaming Commission