Report: Two Mississippi State Football Players Violate NCAA Sports Betting Rules

• The Clarion Ledger recently reported two Mississippi State football players violated NCAA sports betting rules earlier this year
• Both players received minor penalties from the NCAA for level III violations
• Both players placed small wagers on the Kalshi prediction market platform

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Two Mississippi State football players reportedly violated NCAA sports betting rules earlier this year, according to a report from the Clarion Ledger.

The athletes, whose names have been redacted in the NCAA reports, were caught gambling in February in violation of NCAA sports betting rules. The athletes received minor penalties for their Level III NCAA violations.

Level III NCAA sports betting violations are described as “inadvertent and isolated or limited in nature” and are the lowest level of Division I violation categories.

Transactions Placed on Prediction Market Platform

The two athletes placed small transactions in early 2026 on Kalshi’s prediction market platform, according to the Clarion Ledger. Both transactions were flagged by ProhiBet, a tool the NCAA uses to monitor athlete sports betting, which then alerted Mississippi State of the transactions.

One of the athletes reportedly placed a $50 bet on Feb. 8 for the Super Bowl on the Seahawks to defeat the Patriots in the final game of the NFL season. In a meeting with Mississippi State’s compliance staff, the athlete admitted to placing the wager, but said it was the only sports bet he’s placed. His claim was eventually confirmed by the state college.

The athlete received rules education due to his transaction and no further penalties were assessed.

The second athlete placed two bets for $10 each just weeks later on the NBA All-Star weekend. He placed a $10 bet on Damian Lillard to win the NBA’s three-point contests, which cashed for $64. He also placed a $10 bet on whether the NBA All-Star game announcer would say a certain word, which lost.

ProhiBet notified the school of his transactions on Feb. 15, one day after the three point contest and the same day as the NBA All-Star game.

The athlete noted it was the only sports bet he has placed. As part of his violation, he had to make a $66.47 payment to a charity of his choice.

No Legalized Mississippi Online Sports Betting

While Kalshi and other prediction market operators are live in Mississippi, online sports betting has yet to be legalized in the Magnolia State. FanDuel and DraftKings online sports betting are not live in Mississippi, but both have a retail sports betting presence in the state.

FanDuel and DraftKings both offer prediction market contracts in Mississippi, but do not offer sports event contracts in the state.

Mississippi legislators, particularly those in the House, have attempted to steward online sports betting bills through the state for the last several years. Rep. Casey Eure (R-116) successfully navigated two online sports betting bills through the House in 2025 and 2026, but both died in the Senate without a single committee hearing.

Sen. David Blount (D-29), chair of the Mississippi Senate finance/gaming committee, is a staunch opponent of online sports betting. Legalization has little to no support in the Senate, he reported.

Speaking with Mississippi Today earlier this year, Blount said the state’s land-based casino industry is too important to Mississippi’s economy and tourism industry to negatively impact with the legalization of online sports betting.

Mississippi Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann (R) is also no fan of legalized online sports betting. In July, Hosemann took to social media to warn state legislators of the potential harms online sports betting legalization would pose for Mississippi residents and brick-and-mortar casinos.

Hosemann urged members of the Mississippi Senate to continue its opposition of online sports betting legalization in the state. The legalization of online sports betting will not “create a single job for Mississippians” and comes with the increasing concern of social costs for vulnerable citizens.

“Online mobile sports betting increases the risk of gambling-related harm and addiction compared with traditional in-person betting (roughly 1 in 5 people with problem gambler disorder attempt suicide). Our young adults are particularly susceptible and can receive push notifications to bet on their phones 24/7,” he wrote on X.