Bingo in Mississippi: Laws, Halls & Online Bingo (2026 Guide)

Is bingo legal in Mississippi?

Yes, when a licensed charity runs it. Mississippi is better known for its casinos on the Gulf Coast and the Mississippi River, but it also has a separate Charitable Bingo Law, and the Mississippi Gaming Commission regulates both.

Within the commission, the Charitable Gaming Division licenses the nonprofits that run bingo and pull-tabs, approves equipment and handles the charitable gaming regulations (Parts 10 through 13 of the commission’s rules, including a separate part on electronic bingo daubers).

How old do you have to be to play bingo in Mississippi?

The baseline is 18, with a family exception. According to Miss. Code Ann. section 97-33-67(5), as quoted by the Gaming Commission, no licensee may let anyone under 18 play unless a parent or legal guardian is with them. A hall can go further and bar everyone under 18 by posting a written notice.

There is one more rule that surprises people: school-age children may not play bingo or even enter a licensed bingo premises during school hours. Casino gaming floors, including any bingo held there, follow the casino age of 21.

Can you play online bingo for real money in Mississippi?

No. Mississippi allows sports betting, but mobile wagering is limited to casino property, and the state has not authorized online casino games. Charitable bingo must be played in person at a licensed location.

Real-money bingo sites that are not licensed in Mississippi are not legal options. See our online bingo guide for free-play alternatives. If you need help with gambling, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.

Are sweepstakes bingo sites legal in Mississippi?

They are restricted rather than formally banned. The Gaming Commission takes the view that these sites are unlicensed gambling, and in 2025 it issued a cease-and-desist order to VGW, the operator of Chumba Casino. VGW’s brands and several others then dropped prize play in Mississippi or left the state.

Lawmakers have tried twice to write a ban into law. In 2026, SB 2104 would have made running an online sweepstakes casino a felony with penalties up to $100,000. It passed the Senate 52-0 but stalled in the House Gaming Committee, the second year in a row a ban died that way. Read our sweepstakes bingo explainer before putting money into any site still accepting Mississippi players.

Where can you play bingo in Mississippi?

Mostly at games run by licensed charities, from churches and veterans posts to dedicated bingo halls. We have not listed specific halls because we could not confirm current schedules from official or venue sources. The Gaming Commission can tell you which organizations are licensed in your county.

How to run a charity bingo game in Mississippi

Mississippi treats charity bingo as regulated gaming, so expect real oversight.

1. Apply to the Gaming Commission. Your nonprofit needs a charitable bingo license from the Charitable Gaming Division before any game is played. Forms are on the commission’s website.
2. Use approved equipment. Bingo paper, pull-tabs and electronic daubers must meet the commission’s equipment rules.
3. Set your age policy. Decide whether to allow minors with a parent or post a notice barring everyone under 18, and keep school-age children out during school hours.
4. Keep detailed records of receipts, prizes and expenses for commission review.
5. Spend proceeds on your mission, as the Charitable Bingo Law requires.

Our bingo fundraiser guide helps with prizes and volunteers. Living near the Gulf? Compare the rules next door in Louisiana.