Mississippi Poker Rooms: Where to Play Live Poker in MS

Find the best locations to play live poker in The Magnolia State

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Travel to The Big Muddy to play cash games and tournaments at great Mississippi poker rooms. There are over half a dozen places to play Hold’em, Omaha, or Big O in The Magnolia State, some of which also run special series like the WSOP Circuit.

Popular Cardrooms in Mississippi Reviewed

We examine some of the best poker rooms to play games in Mississippi. You must be 21 or over to play live poker in Mississippi.

#1 Beau Rivage Resort & Casino

Beau Rivage is MGM Resorts’ flagship casino and cardroom in Mississippi. It’s one of the largest cardrooms in Mississippi with 16 tables, and it’s open from 10 a.m. until 4 a.m. daily.

Daily tournaments are held at the Beau Rivage, with buy-ins ranging from $100 to $150. However, make sure you save some time for larger poker events running during the year. January’s Million Dollar Heater guarantees total prize money worth $1 million.

beau rivage casino

Cash game players aren’t left out of the action, though. Available games include Limit and No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, and 5-Card Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Big O). 7-Card Stud and draw games are available on request.

Look out for regular promotions too. The High-Hand Jackpot will be familiar to you if you’ve played outside Mississippi. However, Beau Rivage also runs a Splash the Pot promotion as well. With this offer, the house will add bonus chips to the pot as you play – completely free of charge.

One of the key features of the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino poker room is the rewards program. The MGM Rewards program allows you to earn points as you play, which can then be redeemed for a variety of perks and benefits. This is a great way to make your poker-playing experience even more rewarding.

#2 Ameristar Casino Vicksburg

Ameristar Casino’s poker room isn’t the largest cardroom in Mississippi. However, with 10 tables running from 5 p.m. daily, there’s always something going on.

This poker room is owned by PENN National Gaming, a well-established name in the casino industry, ensuring a high standard of professionalism and service. It also means you can apply for a PENN Cash card and earn points every time you play Mississippi live poker games.

ameristar Casino vicksburg

What sets Ameristar Casino Vicksburg apart are the special tournaments. These tournaments, which take place regularly, add an extra layer of excitement to the gaming experience.

Tournaments are geared toward Hold’em players mainly, but there’s plenty of Omaha and Omaha Hi-Lo cash game action to please the mixed-games aficionados.

#3 Pearl River Room

The Pearl River Room is situated at the Pearl River Resort at Golden Moon Casino in Philadelphia. With 14 tables, the Pearl River Room is one of the biggest cardrooms in the state. Best of all, the cardroom is open 24 hours a day.

Limit and No-Limit Texas Hold’em are the main games to play at this Mississippi poker room. However, Omaha is also available at a range of limits.

pearl river resort
Source: Golden Moon Casino-Resort

There isn’t a lot in the way of regular tournaments at Pearl River. Daily $75 NLHE tournaments cater to casual players. However, we do recommend you check out the Pearl River Poker Open if you want to play special tournaments.

There’s good news if you want to stay for a day or two. You can call the cardroom at 1-601-663-1040 and ask about special room rates to play your stay. That’s the perfect way to plan if you’re playing live poker in Mississippi.

#4 Horseshoe Casino Tunica

Horseshoe Tunica is one of several Caesars-owned casinos in Mississippi that runs poker. It also has the largest cardroom in Mississippi, with 25 tables.

Horseshoe Casino is the place to come if you enjoy tournaments. There is a full roster of daily tournaments with buy-ins up to $200. Our highlight is the Saturday-night NLHE tournament with a $10,000 guarantee.

In addition, you can enter the weekly “Thousandaire” tournament. This NLHE tourney has a friendly $135 buy-in, but the top four players are guaranteed at least $1,000 apiece.

horseshoe tunica
Source: Horseshoe Tunica

Horseshoe Casino Tunica is one of dozens of Caesars properties where you can earn player points. Join the Caesars Rewards program when you play cash games or Hold’em tournaments, then redeem your points for discounted hotel rooms, meals, and lots more.

#5 IP Casino Biloxi

In 1997, the doors of the IP Casino Biloxi opened to the public, and among its many gaming offerings is a dedicated poker room. The property, owned by Boyd Gaming, has become a staple for poker enthusiasts in the region.

The poker room operates from 11 a.m. until late, accommodating both the early bird player and the night owl. This flexibility in hours ensures that regardless of your schedule, there is an opportunity for you to participate in the game.

IP Casino biloxi
Source: IP Casino Bilox

Upon entering the poker room, you will find 10 tables. The room is non-smoking, providing a comfortable environment for all players. It’s a space that caters to both the Hold’em and Omaha players, with these games being the primary offerings.

As a player, you will appreciate the inclusion of the poker room in the Boyd Rewards program. This program allows you to earn and redeem points not just at IP Casino Biloxi, but at other Boyd Gaming properties as well. It’s a tangible way your time and play are valued.

Top Live Mississippi Poker Rooms

Not all Mississippi casinos run poker games. Luckily, we’ve collected a full list of casinos with cardrooms in MS right here.

Cardroom NameAddressCityPhone Number
Ameristar Casino Vicksburg4116 Washington St, Vicksburg, MS 39180Vicksburg1-601-638-1000
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino875 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS 39530Biloxi1-228-386-7111
Boomtown Casino Biloxi676 Bayview Avenue, Biloxi, MSBiloxi1-228-435-7000
Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast711 Hollywood Blvd, Bay St. Louis, MS 39520Bay St. Louis1-228-469-2100
Pearl River ResortHighway 16 West, Choctaw, MS 39350Choctaw1-866-447-3275
Horseshoe Casino Tunica1021 Casino Center Drive, Robinsonville, MS 38664Robinsonville1-800-303-7463
IP Casino Biloxi850 Bayview Avenue, Biloxi, MS 39530Biloxi1-888-946-2847
Harrah’s Gulf Coast280 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS 39530Biloxi1-800-946-2946

Biggest Live Poker Rooms in Mississippi

Cardrooms at Mississippi live poker casinos house anywhere from 5–25 tables. This is a list of the largest cardrooms in the state.

Cardroom NameGames OfferedNumber of TablesMajor Events
Ameristar Casino VicksburgHold’em, Omaha10n/a
Beau Rivage Resort & CasinoDaily tournaments, No Limit Hold’em, PLO, Limit Hold’em, Big O, mixed games, tournaments16Million Dollar Heater
Boomtown Casino BiloxiWeekly tournaments, Hold’em, Omaha Hi/Hi-Lo cash games5n/a
Hollywood Casino Gulf CoastLimit Hold’em, No Limit Hold’em, Omaha5n/a
Pearl River Room (Golden Moon Hotel & Casino)$75 daily tournaments, Limit Hold’em, No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha14Pearl River Poker Open
Horseshoe Casino TunicaDaily tournaments, monster stack, $10,000-GTD events, bounties25WSOP Circuit
IP Casino BiloxiNo Limit Hold’em, Omaha 8 or Better, Limit Hold’em10n/a
Harrah’s Gulf CoastTexas Hold’em, Omaha5WSOP Circuit

Mississippi Poker Rooms with Hotels

Most Mississippi poker rooms are situated in casino resorts with large hotels attached. Don’t forget to earn loyalty points when you play live poker in Mississippi to get the best hotel deals.

Casino NameNumber of Rooms
Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast290+
Ameristar Casino Vicksburg149+
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino1,740+
Boomtown Casino Biloxi316+
Pearl River Room (Golden Moon Hotel)600+
Horseshoe Casino Tunica500+
IP Casino Biloxi1088+
Harrah’s Gulf Coast500+

Mississippi Poker Laws

In Mississippi, live poker has been a reality since the early 1990s. The Mississippi Gaming Control Act was set up to establish a commission to oversee dockside casinos. You can discover more with our guide to US gambling laws by state.

 All poker rooms can be found on riverboats and dockside casinos along the Mississippi, and the Gulf Coast. Tournament and cash game players are catered to by eight of Mississippi’s casinos. You can read more with our guide to Mississippi gambling laws.

Poker is overseen by the Mississippi Gaming Commission. In addition to Mississippi, you can browse our US State & Federal Gaming Commission Directory.

In addition to poker, Mississippians over 21 can enjoy a range of legal gambling. Bingo halls have been in operation since the 1990s, and there’s an established Mississippi lottery.

Live Poker Games

You can enjoy a host of live poker options at Mississippi casinos right now. Cash games are enjoyed across all MS cardrooms and most casinos schedule daily tournaments.

Texas Hold’em

In Mississippi, Texas Hold’em is the most popular poker format among poker enthusiasts. Players can engage in thrilling cash games, participate in high-stakes tournaments, and attend special events. While No Limit Hold’em is available everywhere, the larger cardrooms also spread Limit Hold’em cash.

Omaha

You can play Omaha or Hi-Lo at most Mississippi poker rooms. It’s a 4-card variation of Hold’em that’s usually played in cash game format. With plenty of re-draws and out-draws, Omaha can be wild, but there’s usually a Bad Beat Jackpot in place if you get unlucky.

Big O

5-Card Omaha, or Big O, is available to play at some of Mississippi’s bigger casinos, such as Beau Rivage. You must make the best 5-card poker hand from any two of your hole cards and three of the community cards. Always use responsible gambling when you play any cash games.

Live Poker Formats

There’s a range of poker formats available to anyone over the minimum gambling age in Mississippi. Cash games run as soon as the cardroom opens, and there is normally one tournament a night at the biggest MS poker rooms.

Cash Games

In a cash game, you sit down with at least the minimum buy-in, and blind levels never change. $1/$2 is the lowest level for No Limit Texas Hold’em, but bigger poker rooms in Mississippi may spread $2/$5 or higher.

  • Limit Hold’em
  • No Limit Hold’em
  • Pot Limit Omaha Hi
  • Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo
  • Big O (5-card Omaha)

Tournaments

There’s at least one tournament a week at all Mississippi poker rooms. Buy-ins rarely go above $150 for weekly tournaments. For special events, such as the Pearl River Poker Open, the buy-ins may reach $1,000–$1,500.

  • $10,000-GTD (Horseshoe Casino Tunica)
  • $75 Daily Tournament (Pearl River Room)
  • “Thousandaire” (Top 4 guaranteed $1,000 – Horseshoe Casino Tunica)

World Series of Poker

The WSOP Circuit (WSOP-C) lands in Mississippi most years. The Horseshoe Casino & Hotel in Tunica is the main host cardroom for the circuit event. The schedule usually features around 15–16 different tournaments

Special Poker Events

The largest cardroom operators in MS run special events throughout the year. Beau Rivage and Pearl River are two of the best examples, particularly Beau Rivage with its Million Dollar Heater in January.

This series includes around a dozen tournaments with buy-ins ranging from $300 to $1,200. Guaranteed prizepools can be around the $500,000–$750,000 mark.

  • Million Dollar Heater (Beau Rivage)
  • Pearl River Poker Open (Pearl River Room)

Mississippi Live Poker Promotions & Rewards

You can make your poker play work harder for you by entering a rewards program. You earn points for every dollar of rake you pay. There’s usually a minimum play requirement (e.g. 4+ hours) before you start earning points. You can claim points whenever you play cash games or Mississippi poker tournaments.

Most of the Mississippi poker rooms run jackpots during the day. You can win a progressive jackpot by hitting the highest hand of the week or by being beaten when holding quads or better.

  • High Hand Jackpot
  • Bad Beat Jackpot
  • Splash the Pot
  • PENN Cash
  • Caesars Rewards Program

Tribal Gaming in Mississippi

There are a limited number of tribal casinos in Mississippi, some of which offer poker. Currently, only the Pearl River Room at Golden Moon Casino (run by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians) offers live poker options.

  • Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (Golden Moon Casino, Bok Homa Casino, Silver Star Hotel & Casino)

Home Poker Games

Under Mississippi gambling laws, any games held for profit without a license are considered illegal. That would cover for-money home games that take a rake or tournament fee.

Charitable gambling is permitted in Mississippi, but operators need to apply for a valid license from the Mississippi Gaming Commission.

Online Poker & Gaming in Mississippi

Online poker in Mississippi is not regulated, nor is it likely to be any time soon. For many years, online gambling was prohibited under the terms of UIGEA and the Federal Wire Wager Act.

You can play cash games and tournaments at a licensed Mississippi poker room. However, the laws on online gambling in The Magnolia State are quite different. Check out our guides for more information:

Closed Cardrooms in Mississippi

  • Golden Nugget Poker Room Biloxi
  • Silver Star Resort & Casino

Famous Poker Players from Mississippi

Mississippi has produced several top-performing poker players. Tom Franklin tops the all-time money-earners list, but Mike Postle is probably the most infamous pro to come from The Magnolia State.

  • Tom Franklin (Career earnings: $3.3m)
  • Tyler Smith (Career earnings: $2.6m)
  • Jeremy Eyer (Career earnings: $1.4m)
  • Timothy Burt (Career earnings: $1.3m)
  • Mike Postle (Career earnings: $582,000)

Poker Tax

Like many US states, every Mississippi poker room is obliged to withhold tax on your winnings and inform the IRS. The official tax rate is 3%, but the amount varies depending on how much you win.

For example, you will be issued with a Form 1099 if your win is over $600. You’ll also be issued with a Form W-2G if the prize is worth more than 300 times your buy-in. You’ll also be issued a Form W-2G if your payout is $5,000 or more.

Want to find out more? Check out our online gambling tax guide.

FAQ

Are Mississippi poker rooms legal?

Yes. In Mississippi, live poker games are legal if played at licensed riverboats or dockside casinos. The Mississippi Gaming Control Act oversees all legal poker and gaming in The Magnolia State.

How many cardrooms are there in Mississippi?

Eight live cardrooms in Mississippi run cash games and tournaments. The average number of tables is 10, and most poker rooms are open until 4 a.m.

Who regulates each Mississippi poker room?

Each poker room is regulated by the Mississippi Gaming Commission under the rules of the Mississippi Gaming Control Act. Casinos must be based dockside on the Mississippi or Gulf Coast and have a valid gaming license to operate.

Is online poker legal in Mississippi?

No. At present, online poker is not legal in Mississippi. At least, there are no regulated poker sites with Mississippi-licensed companies. However, you can often access offshore poker rooms that accept players from MS.

How old do I have to be to play poker games in Mississippi?

You must be 21 or over to play poker in Mississippi. Cash games and tournaments are both covered by this rule, and you may be asked for a form of photo ID when you enter the cardroom.

Is there a dress code at Mississippi cardrooms?

No. There is a casual dress code at most Mississippi poker rooms. You may be asked to wear a shirt, a dress, or trousers but the rules are relaxed at all riverboat casinos.

Is every Mississippi poker room open 24 hours?

No. Most cardrooms in Mississippi are open until 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. Weekend hours may be longer at casinos, but check the cardroom’s website before you make the journey. Pearl River is the only Mississippi poker room that operates 24 hours.

Can I play the World Series of Poker in MS?

Caesars casinos in Mississippi host WSOP Circuit tournaments throughout the year. The WSOP Circuit schedule usually boasts around 10 tournaments that cover Hold’em, Omaha, and a Seniors event.

Can I play home poker games in MS?

Yes, you can play social poker games at home that don’t award cash prizes. However, the Mississippi State Code prohibits games for money. Under § 97-33-1, the Gaming Control Act bans any “gambling game” held without a valid license.

Must I pay tax on my poker winnings?

Yes. You are liable to pay a 3% tax on any winnings you make from a licensed Mississippi poker room. The casino will withhold the money and inform the IRS. You are also required to submit details of the win on your income tax return.

Is there assistance with problem gambling in Mississippi?

Yes. You can call the Mississippi Council on Problem and Compulsive Gambling to receive help for addiction. The direct number is 1-888-777-9696, or you can text “msgambler” to 53342.

Do any successful poker pros come from Mississippi?

Yes. Tom Franklin is probably the most successful professional poker player from MS. He has won over $3m in tournament cashes at casinos around the US.

What is poker rake?

Rake is the fee you must pay on every qualifying cash pot. In Mississippi, it’s around 5–10% up to a maximum of $4. Mississippi poker rooms have different rules on rake, so always check with the casino before you travel.

Can I play poker freerolls at casinos in Mississippi?

No. No Mississippi poker room runs freerolls on their premises, even for VIPs. However, you can play freerolls online at our recommended poker sites for a chance to win real money.

Is smoking allowed in Mississippi poker rooms?

No. Nearly all MS poker rooms are smoking-free. Some of the larger casinos in the state have smoking areas outside, however.

Do MS cardrooms offer loyalty points when I play poker?

Absolutely. You can claim points by playing poker for long sessions at cardrooms, or by entering tournaments and cash games. You log points on a player card and then redeem them for perks like discounted room rates and free meals.

Are any new cardrooms being built in Mississippi?

Yes. Foxwoods Resort Casino at Biloxi Pointe is a new $265m project that is currently in development. The new casino will cover over 70,000 square feet of gaming floor, and it will offer table games and possibly poker to thousands of visitors.   

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