No, you cannot play online poker legally in Mississippi. Although the state has an active gambling industry with massive casinos all around, poker enthusiasts in Mississippi can only play in dedicated poker rooms and live casinos. Some casinos also have video poker machines, but online casinos are off-limits as far as state regulations are concerned.
Why Not? What Are the Online Poker Laws in Mississippi?
The laws prohibiting online poker games in Mississippi can be found in sections 75.76 and 97.33 of the state’s penal code. These laws ban all forms of online gambling, including poker. This leaves poker enthusiasts in Mississippi with limited options. The state’s gaming commission (Mississippi Gaming Commission) has made several attempts to legalize online gambling, but this has been unsuccessful.
But while it is illegal to play online poker in Mississippi, residents in search of alternatives can consider playing on offshore casinos. So far, no individual player has been penalized by the law for playing at a Mississippi online casino. This means you can patronize international poker rooms online without facing legal troubles. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t risks.
The decision to play on an offshore Mississippi poker site is entirely up to you. However, MyPokerCoaching does not recommend playing on those sites. Offshore sites are not domiciled in the United States. This puts them outside the control of both state and federal laws, which can be risky for players.
As a Mississippi player using these offshore sites, there are no guarantees of getting your money back especially if the site crashes or gets shut down. These sites may also not follow standard fair play practices in their games, which can cause you to lose money against cheaters and “bots”. There are no measures to recover your funds or protect international players on these platforms, which makes them unsafe and unreliable.
Potential Mississippi Poker Sites to Launch in the Future
Poker has been popular in Mississippi for many years, but the state is still to regulate online poker sites. There have been several attempts at it over the years, but so far, none have come to fruition.
It is a pretty safe bet that online poker in MS will be regulated at some point in the future, so the only real question is when. While it’s hard to give any definitive answer at this point in time, we continue to monitor the situation and will keep you updated with any important developments.
When online poker is finally legal in MS, there are a few sites that we can expect to go live. These are all operators with a major presence in the regulated US market, and they’ll likely jump at the opportunity to expand their presence.
BetMGM Poker Mississippi
BetMGM has established itself as a household name in the regulated US online poker space, and the operator will likely be among the first to stake a claim in such an attractive new market.
We expect BetMGM Poker will bring out a platform similar to that in other states like PA, MI, and NJ. A poker client powered by the PartyPoker technology offers a modern and very reliable solution for all online poker fans, even if it is not as rich in functionalities as some other platforms.
In terms of game variety, players can look forward to a nice mix of online tournaments, a wide range of cash game stakes, and, in all likelihood, BetMGM Poker’s staple SPINS – a hugely popular sit & go variation featuring a random jackpot.
It is also likely that BetMGM Poker MS will come out of the gate swinging, offering a generous welcome bonus. With what’s likely to be heavy competition in the state, all sites will look for ways to stand out, and this is generally a good thing for the players.
PokerStars Mississippi
Although the company couldn’t enter the US before 2016, PokerStars has established itself as a staple name of online poker in the country, just like they have done in the global market.
Once the regulation is finally passed, the launch of PokerStars is pretty much a guarantee. This is especially true if the state passes a law with the expectation of joining the MSIGA, as the operator seems eager to take advantage of opportunities provided by interstate poker.
But even without that particular element, MS is a big enough market on its own.
What PokerStars brings to the table is the operator’s experience in organizing major online series, first and foremost. US versions of ‘COOP events have been hugely successful in all states where the site currently has a presence, and there is no reason to think Mississippi would be an exception.
PokerStars also offers one of the best software solutions for desktop computers and mobile devices alike. This enhances the player experience and certainly helps push the site towards the top of the list when deciding where to play.
WSOP Mississippi
The third MS poker site likely to go live as soon as legal requirements are met is WSOP.com. Right now, WSOP is the only operator present in all regulated US markets with active poker sites, and the company is on the constant lookout for expansion opportunities.
WSOP.com has one trump card that no other operators can match, which is its ability to host bracelet-awarding events and exclusive satellites to live World Series of Poker tournaments. This has helped the operator remain competitive across the country.
A launch in a new state would likely mean an exclusive bracelet series, giving players in the state great opportunities to win some WSOP silverware from the comfort of their home, and if past experience is any indicator, this is an opportunity that players jump on.
WSOP should have no problem claiming its fair share of the new market despite competitors, with the operators’ numbers surging during major live and online events.