Gambling in Mississippi predates its statehood. The state’s settlers engaged in horse race betting under Spanish rule, and the modern game of five-card poker probably originated on the riverboats that sailed the Mississippi River in the late 1700s. Back-room gambling was prevalent in clubs and hotels on the Gulf Coast and in Mississippi River towns in the first half of the 20th century.
Nevertheless, most forms of gambling were illegal until 1990 when the state legislature passed the Mississippi Gaming Control Act.
Mississippi Casinos
Two years earlier, the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act codified gaming rights for Native American tribes on their sovereign reservations. This allowed the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians to open the Silver Star Casino in Neshoba County, which prompted Gulf Coast interests to lobby for casino gaming.
The Gaming Control Act authorized dockside gambling, provided a majority of county voters opted in. On August 1, 1992, the Isle of Capri in Biloxi became the first legal commercial riverboat casino in the state. Mississippi later changed its laws to allow casinos on dry land.
Today, there are 26 casinos and three tribal casinos in the state. Some of the most popular games include slots, competitive and tri-card poker, baccarat, craps, roulette, Let it Ride, and blackjack. The most prominent casinos are located in Biloxi (Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Golden Nugget Biloxi, Hard Rock Biloxi, IP Casino Resort & Spa), Gulfport (Island View Casino Resort), Vicksburg (Ameristar Vicksburg), and Tunica (Gold Strike Tunica, Horseshoe Tunica).
| Allowed | Notes | |
| Land-based Gambling | Yes | |
| Online Gambling | No | DFS only |
| Lottery | Yes | Established in 2019 |
| Charitable Gambling | Yes | |
| Minimum Gambling Age | 21 |
Unlawful Gambling in Mississippi
Gambling in Mississippi is covered by Mississippi Code 75-76: Mississippi Gaming Control Act, 87-1: Gambling & Futures Contracts, and 97-33: Gambling & Lotteries.
MS Code § 97-33-1 clarifies that participating in any form of gambling that isn’t authorized by the state is illegal, punishable by a fine of up to $500 or up to 90 years in jail if the fine isn’t paid. Players can also be fined for the money they have won.
Online Gambling in Mississippi
Mississippi has not legalized any form of online gaming. State laws do not specifically mention online gambling in Mississippi specifically, beyond prohibiting "internet sweepstakes cafes." But we know that participating in unlicensed games is illegal, and the money gained from such games can be added to the punishment as an additional fine.
On the subject of offshore gambling sites, the Mississippi Gaming Commission states: "Online sites may advertise they are 'legal' and 'licensed' forms of gaming. They may be legal or licensed where the bets are received, but it is illegal to place bets from Mississippi with these businesses."
Nevertheless, Mississippi authorities have never attempted to prosecute anyone for playing at an offshore site.
Meanwhile, the only legal forms of online 'gambling' are daily fantasy sports and social casino gaming. Several land-based casinos offer online social gaming platforms. MyVegas allows its customers to redeem loyalty points for real-world comps at Gold Strike and Beau Rivage, which are both MGM properties, for example.
Mississippi Poker
Most Mississippi casinos operate poker rooms. Biloxi is the top poker hotspot in the state as it houses the highest number of venues. Still, major tournaments such as WSOP events are usually hosted by the Horseshoe Casino in Tunica.
Home poker games are illegal in Mississippi. The Mississippi Code doesn’t contain any provisions exempting them from the general gambling prohibition.
For online play, the situation is the same as with Mississippi online casinos – real money platforms are illegal, but this doesn’t extend to social sites like Zynga.
Mississippi Sports Betting
Mississippi passed its sports betting bill in 2017, anticipating a favorable decision in the Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association case, which was New Jersey's legal fight to allow sports betting. In May 2018, the Supreme Court struck down PASPA, the federal prohibition, allowing Mississippi casinos to launch legal Mississippi sportsbooks.
The new law also allowed the casinos to offer horse and greyhound betting, despite Mississippi having no racetracks. MGM casinos booked the first wagers on August 1, 2018. Unfortunately, online betting wasn’t included in the 2017 bill, which means all wagers must be placed in-person at licensed land-based venues.
Mississippi Daily Fantasy Sports
Legalized in 2016, DFS contests are the only form of internet gambling allowed in Mississippi. The initial bill permitted DFS companies to operate in the Magnolia State until July 1, 2017, but this deadline was extended indefinitely. As a result, Mississippi residents enjoy access to all major DFS platforms, including DraftKings, FanDuel, and Yahoo DFS.
Mississippi Lotteries
Before it was repealed by public referendum, § 98 of Article 4 of the Mississippi Constitution read: “No lottery shall ever be allowed, or be advertised by newspapers, or otherwise, or its tickets be sold in this state; and the Legislature shall provide by law for the enforcement of this provision; nor shall any lottery heretofore authorized be permitted to be drawn or its tickets sold.”
On August 31, 2018, Gov. Phil Bryant signed a bill authorizing the launch of the lottery and the first scratch-offs and draw tickets went on sale in 2019. Mississippi joined the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) later that year, which allowed it to begin selling Powerball and Mega Millions tickets in early 2020.
Mississippi Bingo
Mississippi permits bingo as a charitable game. Additionally, commercial bingo is available in some of the local casinos, such as the Golden Moon Hotel & Casino or Silver Star Hotel & Casino. Playing online bingo over the internet is illegal as it violates the general prohibition on unauthorized gambling.
Mississippi Gambling FAQ
What types of gambling are available in Mississippi?
Mississippi has 29 casinos but no racetracks. Land-based sports betting became legal in 2018 and a lottery was launched a year later. Beyond daily fantasy sports, there is no legal online gambling in Mississippi.
What laws cover online gambling in Mississippi?
Playing games of chance and placing bets are covered by Sections 97 and 75 of the Mississippi Code. Internet games of chance aren’t explicitly mentioned in any of the statutes beyond a prohibition of internet sweepstakes cafes.
Is real-money online gambling legal in Mississippi?
Mississippi laws prohibit gamblers from placing wagers on any form of unlicensed betting. However, no one has ever been prosecuted for playing on an offshore site in Mississippi or anywhere else in the US.
Does Mississippi offer any intrastate online gambling?
No, Mississippi doesn’t have its own fenced iGaming market. All the sites that accept Mississippi-based customers are based outside the United States.
Can I play slots in Mississippi?
Sure, slots are available at each of the state's 29 casinos. Online slots, like all online gaming, are not regulated by the state and considered illegal.
Where can I play poker in Mississippi?
Most of the state's 29 casinos have poker rooms. Home games, however, are illegal, as is online poker.
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, As Amended
Legal Gaming
Gambling Contracts and Losses
§ 87-1-1. Utterly void.
Contracts, judgments, securities, conveyances made, given, granted, or executed, where the whole or any part of the consideration or foundation thereof shall be for money, or any valuable thing won, lost, or bet at any game or games, or on any horse-race, cock-fight, or at any other sport, amusement, or pastime, or on any wager whatever, or for the reimbursing or repaying any money knowingly lent or advanced for the purpose of such gaming or gambling, or to be wagered on any game, play, horse-race, cock-fight, or on any sport, amusement, pastime, or wager, shall be utterly void.
§ 87-1-3. Transfer of property to secure or pay, inures to wife and children of loser.
Any sale, mortgage, transfer, or conveyance of any estate, real or personal, to any person or to another for his use or benefit, or in any manner to satisfy or secure money or other thing won, or any part thereof, or to secure or satisfy any money or other thing lent or advanced on any consideration, foundation, or purpose mentioned in Section 87-1-1, or any part thereof, shall inure to and vest in the wife and children of said mortgagor, seller, vendor, bargainor, or lessor, the whole estate, title, and interest of such person sold, mortgaged, bargained, transferred, or conveyed, as though such person had died intestate. And the parties to any action founded on any contract or transaction within this chapter, shall be compelled to answer any bill of discovery touching the same.
§ 87-1-5. Loser may sue and recover money or property lost; exceptions.
If any person, by playing at any game whatever, or by betting on the sides or hands of such as do play at any game, or by betting on any horse race or cockfight, or at any other sport or pastime, or by any wager whatever, shall lose any money, property, or other valuable thing, real or personal, and shall pay or deliver the same or any part thereof, the person so losing and paying or delivering the same, or his wife or children, may sue for and recover such money, property, or other valuable thing so lost and paid or delivered, or any part thereof, from the person knowingly receiving the same, with costs. However, this section shall not apply to betting, gaming or wagering:
(a) On a cruise vessel as defined in Section 27-109-1 whenever such vessel is in the waters within the State of Mississippi, which lie adjacent to the State of Mississippi south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, including the Mississippi Sound, St. Louis Bay, Biloxi Bay and Pascagoula Bay;
(b) In a structure located in whole or in part on shore in any of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi in which the registered voters of the county have voted to allow such betting, gaming or wagering on cruise vessels as provided in Section 19-3-79, if:
(i) The structure is owned, leased or controlled by a person possessing a gaming license, as defined in Section 75-76-5, to conduct legal gaming on a cruise vessel under paragraph (a) of this section;
(ii) The part of the structure in which licensed gaming activities are conducted is located entirely in an area which is located no more than eight hundred (800) feet from the mean high-water line (as defined in Section 29-15-1) of the waters within the State of Mississippi, which lie adjacent to the State of Mississippi south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, including the Mississippi Sound, St. Louis Bay, Biloxi Bay and Pascagoula Bay, or, with regard to Harrison County only, no farther north than the southern boundary of the right-of-way for U.S. Highway 90, whichever is greater; and
(iii) In the case of a structure that is located in whole or part on shore, the part of the structure in which licensed gaming activities are conducted shall lie adjacent to state waters south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, including the Mississippi Sound, St. Louis Bay, Biloxi Bay and Pascagoula Bay. When the site upon which the structure is located consists of a parcel of real property, easements and rights-of-way for public streets and highways shall not be construed to interrupt the contiguous nature of the parcel, nor shall the footage contained within the easements and rights-of-way be counted in the calculation of the distances specified in subparagraph (ii).
(c) On a vessel as defined in Section 27-109-1 whenever such vessel is on the Mississippi River or navigable waters within any county bordering on the Mississippi River; or
(d) That is legal under the laws of the State of Mississippi.
Criminal Laws
SEC. 97-33-1. Betting, gaming or wagering; exception from prohibition; penalty.
If any person shall encourage, promote or play at any game, play or amusement, other than a fight or fighting match between dogs, for money or other valuable thing, or shall wager or bet, promote or encourage the wagering or betting of any money or other valuable things, upon any game, play, amusement, cockfight, Indian ball play, or duel, other than a fight or fighting match between dogs, or upon the result of any election, event or contingency whatever, upon conviction thereof, he shall be fined in a sum not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00); and, unless such fine and costs be immediately paid, shall be imprisoned for any period not more than ninety (90) days. However, this section shall not apply to betting, gaming or wagering:
(a) On a cruise vessel as defined in Section 27-109-1 whenever such vessel is in the waters within the State of Mississippi, which lie adjacent to the State of Mississippi south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, and in which the registered voters of the county in which the port is located have not voted to prohibit such betting, gaming or wagering on cruise vessels as provided in Section 19-3-79;
(b) In a structure located in whole or in part on shore in any of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi in which the registered voters of the county have voted to allow such betting, gaming or wagering on cruise vessels as provided in Section 19-3-79, if:
(i) The structure is owned, leased or controlled by a person possessing a gaming license, as defined in Section 75-76-5, to conduct legal gaming on a cruise vessel under paragraph (a) of this section;
(ii) The part of the structure in which licensed gaming activities are conducted is located entirely in an area which is located no more than eight hundred (800) feet from the mean high-water line (as defined in Section 29-15-1) of the waters within the State of Mississippi, which lie adjacent to the State of Mississippi south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, including the Mississippi Sound, St. Louis Bay, Biloxi Bay and Pascagoula Bay, or, with regard to Harrison County only, no farther north than the southern boundary of the right-of-way for U.S. Highway 90, whichever is greater; and
(iii) In the case of a structure that is located in whole or part on shore, the part of the structure in which licensed gaming activities are conducted shall lie adjacent to state waters south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, including the Mississippi Sound, St. Louis Bay, Biloxi Bay and Pascagoula Bay. When the site upon which the structure is located consists of a parcel of real property, easements and rights-of-way for public streets and highways shall not be construed to interrupt the contiguous nature of the parcel, nor shall the footage contained within the easements and rights-of-way be counted in the calculation of the distances specified in subparagraph (ii).
(c) On a vessel as defined in Section 27-109-1 whenever such vessel is on the Mississippi River or navigable waters within any county bordering on the Mississippi River, and in which the registered voters of the county in which the port is located have not voted to prohibit such betting, gaming or wagering on vessels as provided in Section 19-3-79; or
(d) That is legal under the laws of the State of Mississippi.
97-33-3. Gambling; penalties on certain officers; penalty for use of public money.
If a judge of any court, or a justice court judge, or attorney-general or district attorney, or a constable, sheriff, or any person charged by law with the custody of public money, shall violate the provisions of the foregoing section, such person so offending, on conviction thereof, shall be fined Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), and be imprisoned in the county jail twenty (20) days. In case any public officer shall in any manner use or loan public money in his hands by virtue of his office, in any game, wager, or bet, on conviction thereof, his commission shall thereby be deemed vacated, and the vacancy supplied as in case of death, resignation, or removal from office.
97-33-5. Gambling; additional fine against winning gambler for amount won.
In a prosecution for gambling or gaming, in addition to penalties elsewhere provided, the jury shall find the amount won, and it shall be the duty of the court to enter judgment against the winning party for the amount so won, to be collected and paid over as fines.
97-33-7. Gambling devices defined; prohibition; pin ball machines; penalties; exceptions.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person or persons, firm, copartnership, or corporation to have in possession, own, control, display, or operate any cane rack, knife rack, artful dodger, punch board, roll down, merchandise wheel, slot machine, pinball machine, or similar device or devices. Provided, however, that this section shall not be so construed as to make unlawful the ownership, possession, control, display or operation of any antique coin machine as defined in Section 27-27-12, or any music machine or bona fide automatic vending machine where the purchaser receives exactly the same quantity of merchandise on each operation of said machine. Any slot machine other than an antique coin machine as defined in Section 27-27-12 which delivers, or is so constructed as that by operation thereof it will deliver to the operator thereof anything of value in varying quantities, in addition to the merchandise received, and any slot machine other than an antique coin machine as defined in Section 27-27-12 that is constructed in such manner as that slugs, tokens, coins or similar devices are, or may be, used and delivered to the operator thereof in addition to merchandise of any sort contained in such machine, is hereby declared to be a gambling device, and shall be deemed unlawful under the provisions of this section. Provided, however, that pinball machines which do not return to the operator or player thereof anything but free additional games or plays shall not be deemed to be gambling devices, and neither this section nor any other law shall be construed to prohibit same.
(2) No property right shall exist in any person, natural or artificial, or be vested in such person, in any or all of the devices described herein that are not exempted from the provisions of this section; and all such devices are hereby declared to be at all times subject to confiscation and destruction, and their possession shall be unlawful, except when in the possession of officers carrying out the provisions of this section. It shall be the duty of all law-enforcing officers to seize and immediately destroy all such machines and devices.
(3) A first violation of the provisions of this section shall be deemed a misdemeanor, and the party offending shall, upon conviction, be fined in any sum not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or imprisoned not exceeding three (3) months, or both, in the discretion of the court. In the event of a second conviction for a violation of any of the provisions of this section, the party offending shall be subject to a sentence of not less than six (6) months in the county jail, nor more than two (2) years in the State Penitentiary, in the discretion of the trial court.
(4) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, it shall not be unlawful to operate any equipment or device described in subsection (1) of this section or any gaming, gambling or similar device or devices by whatever name called while:
(a) On a cruise vessel as defined in Section 27-109-1 whenever such vessel is in the waters within the State of Mississippi, which lie adjacent to the State of Mississippi south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, and in which the registered voters of the county in which the port is located have not voted to prohibit such betting, gaming or wagering on cruise vessels as provided in Section 19-3-79;
(b) In a structure located in whole or in part on shore in any of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi in which the registered voters of the county have voted to allow such betting, gaming or wagering on cruise vessels as provided in Section 19-3-79, if:
(i) The structure is owned, leased or controlled by a person possessing a gaming license, as defined in Section 75-76-5, to conduct legal gaming on a cruise vessel under paragraph (a) of this subsection;
(ii) The part of the structure in which licensed gaming activities are conducted is located entirely in an area which is located no more than eight hundred (800) feet from the mean high-water line (as defined in Section 29-15-1) of the waters within the State of Mississippi, which lie adjacent to the State of Mississippi south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, including the Mississippi Sound, St. Louis Bay, Biloxi Bay and Pascagoula Bay, or, with regard to Harrison County only, no farther north than the southern boundary of the right-of-way for U.S. Highway 90, whichever is greater; and
(iii) In the case of a structure that is located in whole or part on shore, the part of the structure in which licensed gaming activities are conducted shall lie adjacent to state waters south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, including the Mississippi Sound, St. Louis Bay, Biloxi Bay and Pascagoula Bay. When the site upon which the structure is located consists of a parcel of real property, easements and rights-of-way for public streets and highways shall not be construed to interrupt the contiguous nature of the parcel, nor shall the footage contained within the easements and rights-of-way be counted in the calculation of the distances specified in subparagraph (ii).
(c) On a vessel as defined in Section 27-109-1 whenever such vessel is on the Mississippi River or navigable waters within any county bordering on the Mississippi River, and in which the registered voters of the county in which the port is located have not voted to prohibit such betting, gaming or wagering on vessels as provided in Section 19-3-79; or
(d) That is legal under the laws of the State of Mississippi.
(5) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, it shall not be unlawful (a) to own, possess, repair or control any gambling device, machine or equipment in a licensed gaming establishment or on the business premises appurtenant to any such licensed gaming establishment during any period of time in which such licensed gaming establishment is being constructed, repaired, maintained or operated in this state; (b) to install any gambling device, machine or equipment in any licensed gaming establishment; (c) to possess or control any gambling device, machine or equipment during the process of procuring or transporting such device, machine or equipment for installation on any such licensed gaming establishment; or (d) to store in a warehouse or other storage facility any gambling device, machine, equipment, or part thereof, regardless of whether the county or municipality in which the warehouse or storage facility is located has approved gaming aboard cruise vessels or vessels, provided that such device, machine or equipment is operated only in a county or municipality that has approved gaming aboard cruise vessels or vessels. Any gambling device, machine or equipment that is owned, possessed, controlled, installed, procured, repaired, transported or stored in accordance with this subsection shall not be subject to confiscation, seizure or destruction, and any person, firm, partnership or corporation which owns, possesses, controls, installs, procures, repairs, transports or stores any gambling device, machine or equipment in accordance with this subsection shall not be subject to any prosecution or penalty under this section. Any person constructing or repairing such cruise vessels or vessels within a municipality shall comply with all municipal ordinances protecting the general health or safety of the residents of the municipality.
97-33-9. Gambling; keeping, exhibiting, etc. games or gaming tables; exceptions.
If any person shall be guilty of keeping or exhibiting any game or gaming table commonly called A.B.C. or E.O. roulette or rowley-powley, or rouge et noir, roredo, keno, monte, or any faro-bank, or other game, gaming table, or bank of the same or like kind or any other kind or description under any other name whatever, or shall be in any manner either directly or indirectly interested or concerned in any gaming tables, banks, or games, either by furnishing money or articles for the purpose of carrying on the same, being interested in the loss or gain of said table, bank or games, or employed in any manner in conducting, carrying on, or exhibiting said gaming tables, games, or banks, every person so offending and being thereof convicted, shall be fined not less than Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) nor more than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00), or be imprisoned in the county jail not longer than two (2) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court. Nothing in this section shall apply to any person who owns, possesses, controls, installs, procures, repairs or transports any gambling device, machine or equipment in accordance with subsection (4) of Section 97-33-7 or Section 75-76-34.
97-33-11. Gambling; clubs not to have interest in gaming; each member fined; grand jury investigation.
It shall not be lawful for any association of persons of the character commonly known as a "club," whether such association be incorporated or not, in any manner, either directly or indirectly, to have any interest or concern in any gambling tables, banks, or games, by means of what is sometimes called a "rake-off" or "take-out," or by means of an assessment upon certain combinations, or hands at cards, or by means of a percentage extracted from players, or an assessment made upon, or a contribution from them, or by any other means, device or contrivance whatsoever. It shall not be lawful for such an association to lend or advance money or any other valuable thing to any person engaged or about to engage in playing any game of chance prohibited by law, or to become responsible directly or indirectly for any money or other valuable thing lost, or which may be lost, by any player in any such game. If any such association shall violate any of the provisions of this section each and every member thereof shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof shall be fined in a sum not more than five hundred dollars; and unless such fine and costs be immediately paid, shall be imprisoned in the county jail for not less than five nor more than twenty days. Each grand jury shall cause such of the members of such an association as it may choose to appear before them and submit to examination touching the observance or nonobservance by such association of the provisions hereof.
97-33-13. Gambling; building owners, lessees, etc. not to permit gambling.
Any owner, lessee, or occupant of any outhouse or other building, who shall knowingly permit or suffer any of the before mentioned tables, banks, or games, or any other game prohibited by law, to be carried on, kept, or exhibited in his said house or other building, or on his lot or premises, being thereof convicted, shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than two thousand dollars.
97-33-15. Gambling; hotel, tavern and boarding-house keepers to inform on gamblers.
If any guest or other person shall play at any game, bank, or table contrary to law, in a tavern, hotel, or boarding-house, or any outhouse, or under any booth, arbor, or other place upon the premises in possession of any tavern, hotel, or boarding-house keeper, and the keeper of the tavern, hotel, or boarding-house shall not forthwith give information of the offense, together with the names of the offenders, to some justice of the peace of his county, and prosecute the same, he shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not less than twenty dollars nor more than one hundred dollars.
97-33-17. Gambling; money and appliances forfeited; exceptions.
(1) All monies exhibited for the purpose of betting or alluring persons to bet at any game, and all monies staked or betted, shall be liable to seizure by any sheriff, constable, or police officer, together with all the appliances used or kept for use in gambling, or by any other person; and all the monies so seized shall be accounted for by the person making the seizure, and all appliances seized shall be destroyed; provided, however, this section shall not apply to betting, gaming or wagering on:
(a) A cruise vessel as defined in Section 27-109-1 whenever such vessel is in the waters within the State of Mississippi, which lie adjacent to the State of Mississippi south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, and in which the registered voters of the county in which the port is located have not voted to prohibit such betting, gaming or wagering on cruise vessels as provided in Section 19-3-79;
(b) In a structure located in whole or in part on shore in any of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi in which the registered voters of the county have voted to allow such betting, gaming or wagering on cruise vessels as provided in Section 19-3-79, if:
(i) The structure is owned, leased or controlled by a person possessing a gaming license, as defined in Section 75-76-5, to conduct legal gaming on a cruise vessel under paragraph (a) of this subsection;
(ii) The part of the structure in which licensed gaming activities are conducted is located entirely in an area which is located no more than eight hundred (800) feet from the mean high-water line (as defined in Section 29-15-1) of the waters within the State of Mississippi, which lie adjacent to the State of Mississippi south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, including the Mississippi Sound, St. Louis Bay, Biloxi Bay and Pascagoula Bay, or, with regard to Harrison County only, no farther north than the southern boundary of the right-of-way for U.S. Highway 90, whichever is greater; and
(iii) In the case of a structure that is located in whole or part on shore, the part of the structure in which licensed gaming activities are conducted shall lie adjacent to state waters south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, including the Mississippi Sound, St. Louis Bay, Biloxi Bay and Pascagoula Bay. When the site upon which the structure is located consists of a parcel of real property, easements and rights-of-way for public streets and highways shall not be construed to interrupt the contiguous nature of the parcel, nor shall the footage contained within the easements and rights-of-way be counted in the calculation of the distances specified in subparagraph (ii).
(c) A vessel as defined in Section 27-109-1 whenever such vessel is on the Mississippi River or navigable waters within any county bordering on the Mississippi River, and in which the registered voters of the county in which the port is located have not voted to prohibit such betting, gaming or wagering on vessels as provided in Section 19-3-79; or
(d) That is legal under the laws of the State of Mississippi.
(2) Nothing in this section shall apply to any gambling device, machine or equipment that is owned, possessed, controlled, installed, procured, repaired or transported in accordance with subsection (4) of Section 97-33-7.
97-33-19. Gambling; money and appliances forfeited; penalty for resisting seizure.
Any person or persons who shall oppose the seizure of any such moneys or appliances by any officer or person so authorized to make it, shall, on conviction thereof, be liable to a penalty of fifteen hundred dollars; and any person who shall take any part of said money, after the said seizure shall be declared, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof, shall be fined and imprisoned, at the discretion of the court.
97-33-21. Gambling; gambling with minor.
Any person of full age who shall bet any money or thing of any value with a minor, or allow a minor to bet at any game or gaming-table exhibited by him, or in which he is interested or in any manner concerned, on conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than three hundred dollars and imprisoned not less than three months.
97-33-23. Gambling; gambling with minor knowing him to be under-age.
Any person of full age who shall bet any money or thing of value with a minor, knowing such minor to be under the age of twenty-one years, or allowing any such minor to bet at any game or games, or at any gaming-table exhibited by him, or in which he is interested or in any manner concerned, on conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment in the penitentiary not exceeding two years.
97-33-25. Gambling; pool-selling; exceptions.
If any person shall sell or buy, either directly or indirectly, any chance in what is commonly called pool, upon any event whatever, or shall in any manner engage in such business or pastime, he shall be fined not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or shall be imprisoned in the county jail not more than ninety (90) days; provided, however, this section shall not apply to betting, gaming or wagering:
(a) On a cruise vessel as defined in Section 27-109-1 whenever such vessel is in the waters within the State of Mississippi, which lie adjacent to the State of Mississippi south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, and in which the registered voters of the county in which the port is located have not voted to prohibit such betting, gaming or wagering on cruise vessels as provided in Section 19-3-79;
(b) In a structure located in whole or in part on shore in any of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi in which the registered voters of the county have voted to allow such betting, gaming or wagering on cruise vessels as provided in Section 19-3-79, if:
(i) The structure is owned, leased or controlled by a person possessing a gaming license, as defined in Section 75-76-5, to conduct legal gaming on a cruise vessel under paragraph (a) of this section;
(ii) The part of the structure in which licensed gaming activities are conducted is located entirely in an area which is located no more than eight hundred (800) feet from the mean high-water line (as defined in Section 29-15-1) of the waters within the State of Mississippi, which lie adjacent to the State of Mississippi south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, including the Mississippi Sound, St. Louis Bay, Biloxi Bay and Pascagoula Bay, or, with regard to Harrison County only, no farther north than the southern boundary of the right-of-way for U.S. Highway 90, whichever is greater; and
(iii) In the case of a structure that is located in whole or part on shore, the part of the structure in which licensed gaming activities are conducted shall lie adjacent to state waters south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, including the Mississippi Sound, St. Louis Bay, Biloxi Bay and Pascagoula Bay. When the site upon which the structure is located consists of a parcel of real property, easements and rights-of-way for public streets and highways shall not be construed to interrupt the contiguous nature of the parcel, nor shall the footage contained within the easements and rights-of-way be counted in the calculation of the distances specified in subparagraph (ii).
(c) On a vessel as defined in Section 27-109-1 whenever such vessel is on the Mississippi River or navigable waters within any county bordering on the Mississippi River, and in which the registered voters of the county in which the port is located have not voted to prohibit such betting, gaming or wagering on vessels as provided in Section 19-3-79; or
(d) That is legal under the laws of the State of Mississippi.
97-33-27. Gambling; betting on horse or yacht race or shooting match; exceptions.
If any person shall bet on a horse race or a yacht race or on a shooting match, he shall be fined not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), and, unless the fine and costs be immediately paid, he shall be imprisoned in the county jail not more than ninety (90) days; provided, however, this section shall not apply to betting, gaming or wagering:
(a) On a cruise vessel as defined in Section 27-109-1 whenever such vessel is in the waters within the State of Mississippi, which lie adjacent to the State of Mississippi south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, including the Mississippi Sound, St. Louis Bay, Biloxi Bay and Pascagoula Bay, and in which the registered voters of the county in which the port is located have not voted to prohibit such betting, gaming or wagering on cruise vessels as provided in Section 19-3-79;
(b) In a structure located in whole or in part on shore in any of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi in which the registered voters of the county have voted to allow such betting, gaming or wagering on cruise vessels as provided in Section 19-3-79, if:
(i) The structure is owned, leased or controlled by a person possessing a gaming license, as defined in Section 75-76-5, to conduct legal gaming on a cruise vessel under paragraph (a) of this section;
(ii) The part of the structure in which licensed gaming activities are conducted is located entirely in an area which is located no more than eight hundred (800) feet from the mean high-water line (as defined in Section 29-15-1) of the waters within the State of Mississippi, which lie adjacent to the State of Mississippi south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, including the Mississippi Sound, St. Louis Bay, Biloxi Bay and Pascagoula Bay, or, with regard to Harrison County only, no farther north than the southern boundary of the right-of-way for U.S. Highway 90, whichever is greater; and
(iii) In the case of a structure that is located in whole or part on shore, the part of the structure in which licensed gaming activities are conducted shall lie adjacent to state waters south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, including the Mississippi Sound, St. Louis Bay, Biloxi Bay and Pascagoula Bay. When the site upon which the structure is located consists of a parcel of real property, easements and rights-of-way for public streets and highways shall not be construed to interrupt the contiguous nature of the parcel, nor shall the footage contained within the easements and rights-of-way be counted in the calculation of the distances specified in subparagraph (ii).
(c) On a vessel as defined in Section 27-109-1 whenever such vessel is on the Mississippi River or navigable waters within any county bordering on the Mississippi River, and in which the registered voters of the county in which the port is located have not voted to prohibit such betting, gaming or wagering on vessels as provided in Section 19-3-79; or
(d) That is legal under the laws of the State of Mississippi.
97-33-29. Gambling; laws remedial, not penal.
All laws made or to be made for the suppression of gambling or gaming, are remedial and not penal statutes, and shall be so construed by the courts.
97-33-31. Lotteries; penalty for putting on.
If any person, in order to raise money for himself or another, or for any purpose whatever, shall publicly or privately put up a lottery to be drawn or adventured for, he shall, on conviction, be imprisoned in the penitentiary not exceeding five years.
97-33-33. Lotteries; advertising prohibited.
If any person shall in any way advertise any lottery whatever, no matter where located, or shall knowingly have in his possession any posters or other lottery advertisements of any kind-save a regularly issued newspaper containing such an advertisement without intent to circulate the same as an advertisement-he shall, on conviction, be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than one hundred dollars, or be imprisoned in the county jail not exceeding three months, or both.
97-33-35. Lotteries; advertising prohibited; publication or circulation of newspapers.
If any newspaper published or circulated in this state shall contain an advertisement of any lottery whatever, or any matter intended to advertise a lottery, no matter where located, the editor or editors, publisher or publishers, and the owner or owners thereof permitting the same, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on conviction, shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars, and be imprisoned in the county jail not less than ten days nor more than three months, for each offense. The issuance of each separate daily or weekly edition of the newspaper that shall contain such an advertisement shall be considered a separate offense.
97-33-37. Lotteries; advertising prohibited; sale of newspapers.
If any newsdealer or other person shall, directly or indirectly, sell or offer for sale any newspaper or other publication containing a lottery advertisement, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, shall be fined not less than ten dollars or imprisoned not less than ten days or both.
97-33-39. Lotteries; sale of tickets.
If any person shall sell, or offer or expose for sale, any lottery ticket, whether the lottery be in or out of this state, or for or in any other state, territory, district, or country, he shall, on conviction, be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than one hundred dollars, or imprisoned in the county jail not less than ten days nor more than sixty days, or both.
97-33-41. Lotteries; buying tickets in state prohibited.
If any person shall buy in this state any lottery ticket, whether the lottery be in or out of this state, or of or in any other state, territory, district, or country, he shall, on conviction, be fined not less than Five Dollars ($5.00) nor more than Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00), or be imprisoned in the county jail not exceeding ten (10) days, or both.
97-33-43. Lotteries; railroads.
If any railroad company shall suffer or permit the sale of a lottery ticket of any kind on its cars, or at its depots or depot grounds, or by its employees, no matter where the lottery is located, it shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on conviction shall be fined not less than twenty dollars nor more than one hundred dollars for every such ticket so sold.
97-33-45. Lotteries; steamboats.
If the owner or owners of any steamboat shall suffer or permit the sale of a lottery ticket of any kind on his or their boat, or by his or their employees, no matter where the lottery is located, he or they shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall, on conviction, be punished as prescribed in section 97-33-43.
97-33-47. Lotteries; acting as agent for.
If any person shall act as agent for any lottery or lottery company, no matter where domiciled or located, or if he shall assume to so act as agent, or if he receive any money or other thing for any such lottery or lottery company, or deliver to any person any ticket or tickets, prize or prizes, or other thing from such lottery or lottery company, he shall, on conviction, be fined not less than one hundred dollars, nor more than five hundred dollars, and be imprisoned in the county jail not less than three months nor more than six months.
97-33-49. Raffles.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 97-33-51, if any person, in order to raise money for himself or another, shall publicly or privately put up or in any way offer any prize or thing to be raffled or played for, he shall, on conviction, be fined not more than Twenty Dollars ($20.00), or be imprisoned not more than one (1) month in the county jail.
97-33-50. Short title.
The provisions of Sections 97-33-51 through 97-33-81, 97-33-101 through 97-33-109, 97-33-201 and 97-33-203, Mississippi Code of 1972, may be cited as the "Charitable Bingo Law".
97-33-51. Exemptions for certain bingo games and raffles.
(1) The provisions of Sections 97-33-1 through 97-33-49 shall not apply to any raffle wherein a ticket is sold and a prize is offered when such raffle is being held by and for the benefit of any nonprofit civic, educational, wildlife conservation or religious organization with all proceeds going to said organization.
(2) The provisions of Sections 97-33-1 through 97-33-49 shall not apply to any bingo game wherein a prize is offered when such bingo game is being held in accordance with the provisions of the Charitable Bingo Law.
(3) A bingo game or a raffle held pursuant to the provisions of the Charitable Bingo Law shall not be considered a game or gambling game for the purposes of Section75-76-1 et seq.