Can You Play Online Poker in Mississippi?

Regulation has been discussed but no recent movement.

Current Mississippi Gambling Laws

Mississippi has had a bit of a hot-and-cold relationship with gambling over the years.

For many years, Mississippi was one of the few places with an established brick-and-mortar casino industry featuring slots and table games, joining Atlantic City as a secondary hotbed of gambling after the runaway industry leaders in Las Vegas.

At this point, the state still sports just shy of 30 casinos, mostly located on the Gulf Coast and along the river.

If that seems a little out of place in the conservative South, that's probably because it was, and many subsequent efforts to address gambling in the state reflect that. Despite the established casino gambling culture, with the state even having its own type of straddle named after it in the Mississippi Straddle, further efforts to expand gambling have been mostly shut down, but the tide may finally be turning.

Mississippi was actually once on the forefront of the internet gaming push. Right around when New Jersey and Nevada were getting the ball rolling, a MIssissippi lawmaker, Rep. Bobby Moak, championed the Mississippi Lawful Internet Gaming Act of 2012. Moak's efforts went for naught that year, however, and subsequent bills went equally busto thereafter.

More anti-gambling sentiment followed when daily fantasy sports operators DraftKings and FanDuel were pushed out of the state in 2016. However, there's been some recent movement that may signal positive news on the horizon.

In 2018, a law was passed that will clear the way for a state-run lottery in Mississippi. Previously, Mississippi was one of just six states without one.

Also, seeing an opportunity to boost its flagging brick-and-mortar casino scene, Mississippi became one of the first states to jump on board the sports betting train. A natural fit for the sports-crazy South, sports betting has helped boost revenue. Maybe the lawmakers get the clue that increased regulated gambling is better than being left behind.

The next step is just to get everything online.

Best Online Poker Sites for Mississippi Players

None at present. But you can always play poker for free with the WSOP Social App.