Riverboat and reservation gambling was legalized in Mississippi in 1992. Mississippi had a long history of back room gambling that dated back to the 1800’s before its legislature legalized casinos in coastal cities. Gaming law now allows casinos to be as far as 800 feet from the ocean since Hurricane Katrina wiped out the Gulf Coast gaming industry in 2005.
Mississippi does not have a bet limit or any restriction on games. Table games and slot machines are legal there. Poker is experiencing a decline on the Gulf Coast due to casino expansion in Florida. While this has hurt some smaller rooms, the large Biloxi poker rooms continue to thrive.
Is Online Poker Legal in Mississippi?
Mississippi has yet to legalize online poker. There have been two attempts to legalize online poker and casino games in the State. The Mississippi Lawful Internet Gaming Act was introduced in both 2012 and 2013. The bill did not gain any traction and died in committee both years.
Where Can You Play Online Poker in Mississippi?
Players still have choices for Mississippi online poker.
CarbonPoker.AG
For example, Carbon Poker is probably the largest remaining USA-facing room right now. It is a more traditional online poker room on the Merge Gaming Network. It offers a 200% up to $5,000 first deposit bonus. Players may choose between Texas Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, Seven Card Stud, as well as a number of unusual draw and mixed games. Players that enjoy games besides Texas Hold’em will want to download Carbon Poker.
Bovada.LV
On the same note, sites like Bovada have solid player traffic at around 2,500 players each and every evening. Players can choose between hundreds of cash games. Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha High/Low and stud games are all available. A weekly $100,000 guaranteed tournament is spread every Sunday. There is also a 100% up to $1,000 first deposit bonus.
Bovada is a unique room that may not appeal to every Mississippi online poker player. All cash games and tournaments are anonymous. Each player seated at the table is labeled with a number and not a screen name. Players may only join tables that have seats open. Players that are used to getting onto a waitlist in Biloxi or Tunica may not like the inability to wait to get into a juicy game.
Live Poker Scene in Mississippi
If online poker is not your thing then there is plenty of live poker in Mississippi. Tunica, located just outside of Memphis, TN, is the best city for poker in Mississippi. The Gulf Coast and the reservation outside Philadelphia are the only other two places in Mississippi where there is serious poker.
Tunica
Gold Strike – Gold Strike is owned by MGM Resorts and is the largest poker room in Tunica. There are 16 tables there. Gold Strike offers Texas Hold’em and Omaha High/Low games. There are also two daily No Limit Texas Hold’em tournaments.
Harrah’s – Harrah’s is the second largest poker room in Tunica. It offers 14 tables of mostly No Limit Texas Hold’em. There is also one daily tournament.
Gulf Coast
All of the poker rooms on the Gulf Coast are located in either Bay St. Louis or Biloxi. The small Bay St. Louis casinos do not spread tournaments and typically offer low limit games. Biloxi is where serious players go to play poker.
Beau Rivage – The Beau Rivage is an MGM Resorts property located in Biloxi. It offers 16 poker tables and more during major tournament series. The highest limit games on the Gulf Coast are offered there. Players can enjoy No Limit Texas Hold’em up to 5/10 blinds. Fixed Limit Hold’em and Omaha High/Low are also common. One tournament is spread daily.
IP – The IP was once known as Imperial Palace. It is now owned by Boyd Gaming. With 14 tables, it is the second largest poker room in Biloxi. Most games are No Limit Texas Hold’em. It also spreads a tournament each day at noon.
Philadelphia
Pearl River – The Pearl River Resort is located on the Choctaw reservation just outside of Philadelphia, MS. Some of the highest limit games in the state may be found in this seven table poker room.
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