It was a busy week within the Mississippi State Capitol concerning gaming issues. One highly effective lawmaker proposed permitting a business on line casino resort in Jackson, whereas different laws stands to dam a proposed $300 million gaming growth on the Gulf Coast.
A rendering of the Tullis Backyard Lodge in Mississippi features a duplicate of the Tullis Manor that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The event, which is to incorporate a on line casino, stays in jeopardy as state lawmakers take into account a tidelands lease invoice. (Picture: Frank Genzer Architects)
Mississippi Home Methods and Means Committee Chair Trey Lamar (R-Lafayette) on Monday launched a invoice motioning to permit a on line casino in Jackson, the state capital. The pitch seemingly confronted lengthy odds from the onset, as Mississippi’s gaming business for many years has been confined to the Coast and Mississippi River.
Lamar’s on line casino pitch would have allowed the stakeholders behind the state’s present business casinos to bid on a resort alternative within the state capital. Mississippi is at present house to 12 casinos on the Gulf and 14 alongside the Mighty Mississippi. The state can be house to a few Native American gaming services.
Lamar shortly fielded pushback for his enthusiasm to convey a on line casino to the central a part of the state. After figuring out that he didn’t have the votes wanted within the 122-member chamber, the Republican folded and rescinded the invoice, however says he’ll resume the battle subsequent yr.
Vicksburg Opposition
Jackson is Mississippi’s most populated metropolis with about 144K residents.
Named for Common Andrew Jackson, a warfare hero within the Struggle of 1812’s Battle of New Orleans who subsequently turned the seventh president of america, Jackson’s inhabitants continues to say no. The U.S. Census Bureau says Jackson noticed the biggest exodus between the 2010 and 2020 censuses of any main US metropolis.
Lamar’s on line casino invoice projected {that a} gaming resort would generate greater than 1,000 jobs and supply new native tax income for metropolis enchancment initiatives. However casinos in Vicksburg and state reps from the town positioned about 50 miles west of the capital — the closest gaming locations — have been fast to oppose Lamar’s capital metropolis on line casino marketing campaign.
The Coast might survive it, however there’s no manner anyone else may,” mentioned Home Chief Robert Johnson (D-Natchez) of a Jackson on line casino’s impression on present gaming markets.
“It could have been devastating,” added Rep. Oscar Denton (D-Vicksburg).
Tide Lease Invoice
After Hurricane Katrina, the state amended its riverboat legal guidelines to permit land-based gaming alongside the Gulf. Nevertheless, the brick-and-mortar gaming areas should be positioned inside 800 toes of the 19-year imply excessive water line common.
The Mississippi Supreme Court docket final yr dominated that counties alongside the Gulf have the authority to promote lands that butt up towards tidelands which are owned by the state. They’ll achieve this with out first acquiring a tidelands lease from the state. The important ruling paved the best way for businessman Ray Wooldridge’s long-stalled on line casino undertaking on the intersection of Veterans Ave. and Seaside Blvd. to maneuver ahead.
On account of the ruling, state lawmakers are contemplating laws that may require on line casino websites to have state tidelands leases. The invoice is at present in a Home convention committee that’s making an attempt to iron out variations between the 2 legislative chambers.
Together with Woolridge’s growth, the legislative end result may decide whether or not a $300 million on line casino scheme known as Tullis Backyard in East Biloxi advances. The builders of the undertaking have an settlement with Biloxi to buy the eight-acre website from the town, which would come with entry to the tidelands to qualify the undertaking for playing.
The state’s present gaming pursuits are considered lobbying for the state tidelands invoice to provide Jackson extra management and stop additional competitors from coming to the Gulf. Gross gaming income alongside the Gulf Coast final yr was down practically 1%.
