[4] Unlike most U.S. lotteries, the minimum age to buy tickets is 21, the same as Arizona, Iowa and neighboring Louisiana.
Proceeds above the $80 million threshold will be paid into Mississippi's Education Enhancement Fund.
[7] While Mississippi was an early adopter of casino gambling (primarily in the town of Tunica and along the Gulf of Mexico), like many other Bible Belt states it was reluctant to start a state lottery due to opposition from religious leaders.
The formation of a state lottery in Mississippi was made possible in November 1992, when fifty-three percent of the state's electorate voted to repeal Section 98 of Article 4 of the Mississippi Constitution,[8] which read: “No lottery shall ever be allowed, or be advertised by newspapers, or otherwise, or its tickets be sold in this state; and the Legislature shall provide by law for the enforcement of this provision; nor shall any lottery heretofore authorized be permitted to be drawn or its tickets sold.”[9] In 2004, Alyce Clarke introduced a bill to create a state lottery in Mississippi but met with strong opposition from Republican governor Haley Barbour and the leaders of both houses of legislature, so much so that the Mississippi Baptist Convention did not feel the need to mobilize its own opposition.
[10] The Mississippi State Lottery launched its first four scratch-off games - $100,000 Jackpot, 3 Times Lucky, Happy Holidays Y'All, and Triple 7 - at 05:00 on November 25, 2019.
Like most other states that run a "daily number"-style game, Mississippi offers exotic wagers such as boxes and any-order, plus a "one-off" option.
[13] From July 31, 2022, the Lottery added a Fireball feature, which gives players an additional opportunity to create winning combinations.
[citation needed] The lottery's fourth statewide draw game, Cash Pop was introduced on November 1, 2022.
Cash Pop commenced the ticket sales and the first Midday & Evening drawings on November 20, 2022.