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History
of Mississippi Gambling
by Jerry "Jet" Whittaker
January 28, 2006
Know It All
Gambling in Mississippi is some centuries old. Even
before Europeans or Africans called the state their
home, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and other Indian people in the
region gambled regularly. Early accounts tell that
American Indians were fond of games and gambling.
Amongst the popular sports was stick ball, or
ishtaboli, which means “little brother of war.” It
is highly competitive and combative and here two teams
try to score by tossing a ball against the goal post of
the opposing team. This game somehow resembled a
modern-day combination of football and lacrosse, without
helmets and padding. Wagers on the outcome of the game
were placed, like today’s sports betting. These wagers
often included all of the players’ possessions
Knowing
About Cards, Horse Racing And Billiards In Early
Mississippi Gambling –
Cards
- After Europeans and Africans established themselves in
the Mississippi region, gambling practices started in
different forms. Checkers, cards, and billiards were
some popular wagering games among early French
colonists. Especially popular were card games. There
were some Promissory notes that were found in early
18th-century settlements written on the backs of
homemade cards with the pledging of the loser to make a
future payment to the winner.
Horse Racing
- In the 1790’s, when Mississippi was a Spanish
territory, some horse racing enthusiasts built the
Fleetfield Race Track in Natchez. When it was completed
in 1795, Natchezians went to the track and placed bets
on their favorite horses and jockeys, while enjoying the
social atmosphere. So, when
Mississippi
became a state on December 10, 1817, gambling was a part
of its past.
During the 1830s and
1840s, when the population of the state grew,
entertainment opportunities also increased. Many early
19th-century Mississippians enjoyed on the Mississippi
Coast on the Gulf of Mexico. The Hotels there then
started offering lawn bowling, billiards, sailing,
hunting, and dancing. The early tourist destinations in
Biloxi included the Magnolia Hotel, the Nixon Hotel,
Madame Pradat’s, and Shady Grove Hotel. These hotels
provided entertainment and gambling options. Further
when gambling was made legal in Mississippi, hotels and
many smaller establishments started offering slot
machines for their guests, along with other activities
such as dancing and golfing. Then, slot machines also
appeared in grocery stores and some other businesses.
During the Great Depression of the 1930s, gambling was
viewed as a means for stimulating the economy,
especially along the Gulf Coast.
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