Legal Online Poker For Mississippi Residents
Mississippi isn't a very gambling-friendly state outside of the casinos found in Biloxi and Tunica. However, they don't outlaw it completely, so poker is somewhat legal, especially if that poker is played online at legal poker rooms for Mississippi residents.
Is Poker Legal In Mississippi?
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Mississippi has yet to update their laws regarding online gambling. They don't even mention transmitting gambling information over telephone or other electronic means of communication.
Federal laws apply though, so online casino owners and financial institutions will have to obey the UIGEA bill. Federal regulations don't focus on poker players though – since poker is a skill game rather than a game of chance, you can play all day long, seven days a week, and not be breaking any laws.
Legal Online Poker Sites For Mississippi Residents
There are many online poker sites out there that accept poker players from Mississippi, but picking the right one could seem like a daunting task. We have done the research for you – after playing at a huge number of sites, we came with the top three ones that offer online poker for USA players.
Bovada Poker is our personal favorite. They have one of the industry's best promos for new players – a 100% bonus on the first deposit, capped at a whopping $1,000. But the benefits don't stop here – they offer frequent freerolls with consistent prizes, tournaments where you can win small fortunes and additional hefty bonuses for high rollers. The deposit methods are also worth mentioning – Bovada Poker is one of the few casinos that accept Visa and MasterCard from Mississippi residents, as well as all major e-wallets, wire transfer and Western Union.
Poker players all over Mississippi have been yearning for the right online destination for winning real cash and they need look no further than BetOnline. Having been in business for over a decade, this online poker room has it all. Texas Hold ’em, Omaha and stud games abound in this beautifully designed site with a smooth game-playing interface. BetOnline.ag offers play directly on their site or downloading the application directly onto your computer for the fastest connection to the action. Players are also happy to know that the game can even go on the road with a fantastically efficient mobile version. Daily promotions and free rolls keep the cards coming for Mississippi residents and many exciting bonuses are won constantly, such as the 4 of a kind challenge which amps up a user’s account with an extra $40 each and every time a member hold the lucky hand at their table. BetOnline because you can, but also because you should. High stakes action awaits with welcome hands.
There are a number of online poker rooms but for residents of Mississippi, the choice is simple. SportsBetting hosts some of best poker games on the web with the highest growing member base in the world featuring predominantly American players. Fast, secure and reliable, the customer service at SportsBetting hammers out high payouts delivered directly to your door when it’s time to collect the winnings. With every variation of the game imaginable, this online poker room has no problem doling out the cash right from the get-go. New members arrive to their freshly created accounts to discover a 200% boost to their initial deposit upon sending an email to freeplay@sportsbetting.ag with the promo code, “POKER200” in the subject line. This can mean upwards of $1000 for lucky new members and a chance to absolutely crush the tables as soon as seated. There is no question for those in Mississippi that the top-notch poker playing experience online is found at SportsBetting.ag.
Long story short, home poker games aren't allowed in Mississippi. The state's Criminal Code says that any person who promotes or takes part in a game for money or other valuables will be fined for an amount that can get as high as $500. Hosting an illegal game could lead into even more severe punishments.
Other states allow home poker games as long as the host isn't raking the pot or charging the players for sitting in. This is not the case with Mississippi – all games are illegal. If you want to be on the safe side, do not play poker for money.
Is Land Based Poker Legal In Mississippi?
When it comes to gambling in Mississippi, it’s really a tale of two cities, or rather, one city and the rest of the state.
While in the majority of the land between Mississippi’s borders gambling, betting and wagering of all kinds are strictly regulated, Mississippi is home to the gambling capital of the south in Biloxi, where they are exempt from most gambling regulations.
For an average citizen who is looking to take part in a game of poker, there is not much outside of Biloxi that is open to them. In fact, Mississippi strictly forbids the hosting of any games of skill or chance for money outside Biloxi’s limits. Even private games are subject to stricter regulation than in most states.
Even though casinos in Biloxi are exempt from most gambling laws, the average Mississippi resident cannot simply set up shop in Biloxi and begin hosting wagers. Persons or businesses are required to apply for and receive a long list of licenses and permits in order to legally host gambling in their buildings.
This goes the same for private games. Although still technically in violation of the letter of the law, legislation on private poker games amongst friends is very different then what would be perceived as a game that is in the “business” of poker. In order to stay clear of this distinction and avoid potential time in prison, Mississippi residents need only be sure that they avoid collecting a profit off hosting a poker game. This means that one cannot charge admission for the privilege to play, nor can they collect what poker rooms call a “rake,” which is a percentage of each pot the house collects as profit.
So long as a resident is careful to stay on the right side of the law, Mississippi offers plenty of options to legally play poker.
Where to Play Legal Poker in Mississippi
Aside from private games set up among friends that do not collect profit which, although technically illegal, have never been prosecuted in the state, the answer of where to play poker is simple: road trip!
There is no getting around it, if a Mississippi resident is determined to play poker in a live poker room and receive the full casino treatment, they must travel to Biloxi. Even though the city is located in Mississippi, it can still be a far drive for some.
Still, prospective poker players can rest assured that once they make the trip, they will be greeted by all the bright lights of the casino district and all the poker options will be readily available at their fingertips. No matter the game or which variation of poker a player wishes to partake in, everything is available in this miniature Las Vegas jewel of the south.
So long as a resident is located in Biloxi, they can rest assured every casino they venture in is fully sanctioned by the state, and they need not worry about any laws giving them any trouble or coming between them and a good hand of cards.
Unfortunately, if a resident lives far from Biloxi, or cannot make it out regularly, legal land based operations in the rest of Mississippi are virtually non-existent.
Note: The information presented on this site shouldn't be taken as legal advice. We are not legal specialists, but rather enthusiastic poker players from Mississippi who know enough about online laws in the United States to debunk some myths and misconceptions. Should you, however, have doubts about the legality of poker in Mississippi, we strongly recommend seeking professional council.
