Betting has a long and storied history in Mississippi, with the state playing an important role in the development of casino gambling in the US. In the 1940s, the state legalized horse racing and pari-mutuel betting, which helped establish Mississippi as a regional center for the sport. In the 1990s, Mississippi authorized the creation of casinos on the Gulf Coast, which became a popular tourist destination and helped spur the growth of the state’s casino industry. The state also allowed for the operation of electronic gaming machines, further expanding the range of betting options available to residents and visitors alike. In 2018, Mississippi became one of the early adopters of legalized sports betting following a US Supreme Court decision overturning a federal ban on the activity. Today, the state has several sportsbooks operating both in-person and online, and betting on a variety of professional and collegiate sports is legal. Overall, betting has been a significant part of Mississippi’s history and economy, with the state’s casinos and other gaming establishments generating billions of dollars in revenue each year.