Mississippi Gaming Fee (MGC) Chair Al Hopkins died Sunday night on the age of 81, the state has confirmed.
Mississippi Gaming Fee Chair Al Hopkins died on Feb. 12, 2023. Hopkins’ tenure overseeing the state gaming company included the rollout of retail sports activities betting on the state’s 19 business casinos. (Picture: Biloxi Solar Herald)
Hopkins, a longtime Gulfport legal professional, oversaw the state gaming fee since 2015. Hopkins retired from the navy and Mississippi Nationwide Guard with the rank of main normal. He then based his personal regulation agency in 1977 earlier than serving 13 years as chief choose of the Mississippi Courtroom of Navy Appeals.
Hopkins acquired his undergrad levels in historical past and English from Delta State College and Juris Physician from the College of Mississippi. He later obtained a bachelor’s diploma in Biblical research from William Carey College.
I misplaced an amazing pal,” stated retired Air Pressure Gen. Joe Spraggins. “You had been, and can proceed to be, an amazing mentor to me, and I thanks in your management and friendship.”
Hopkins was a mentor to many, together with Steve Richer, the previous govt director of the Harrison County Tourism Fee.
“Al Hopkins was my mentor, pal, and personification of all that was particular about our Coast,” Richer stated. Each condolence messages had been first reported by the Biloxi Solar Herald.
Hopkins is survived by his spouse, Ruth, and their two kids.
The Mississippi Gaming Fee will meet this Thursday to nominate Hopkins’ interim successor. The place shall be completely stuffed by Gov. Tate Reeves (R), whose choose requires affirmation from the state Senate. The MGC’s two different commissioners — Tom Gresham and Francis Lee — are presumably the front-runners for the emptiness.
Tenure Included Sports activities Betting
The Mississippi Legislature amended the state’s legal guidelines on business riverboat gaming following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. After the Class 5 storm devastated the state and brought about a lot injury to the state’s riverboats, lawmakers agreed to permit the on line casino to rebuild above land — as long as the brand new gaming services stay inside 800 ft of their authentic barges.
Although Hopkins wasn’t on the MGC for the inland transfer for some riverboats, he did oversee the state’s legalization of sports activities betting. After the US Supreme Courtroom dominated in Could 2018 that states — not the federal authorities — ought to dictate their very own legal guidelines on sports activities betting, Mississippi lawmakers concluded that sports activities betting fell below the scope of the state’s permitted gaming actions. As such, the MGC stated licensed business casinos can open sportsbooks as soon as these operations underwent compliance testing.
Sports activities betting, nevertheless, stays restricted to the state’s 26 casinos. Quite a few legislative efforts to provoke on-line sports activities betting have failed within the Jackson capital.
Whereas there may be reportedly an urge for food within the legislature to broaden sports activities betting to the web, earlier efforts have included self-service sportsbook kiosks in eating places and bars. That proposed growth of gaming has been blamed for the state’s impasse concerning cell sports activities betting.
Legislative Newest
Mississippi lawmakers are again on the sports activities betting drafting board. Home Invoice 606 would set up an internet sports activities betting job pressure to check and decide one of the best legislative path ahead to permit web wagering.
HB606 handed the Home of Representatives final week by a 110-4 vote. The measure now strikes to the Senate Gaming Committee for additional consideration.
The statute would require a newly shaped “Cellular-On-line Sports activities Betting Process Pressure” to current a remaining report and detailed assertion of findings, conclusions, and proposals concerning the potential implementation of on-line sports activities betting by Oct. 15, 2023. These findings might pave the way in which for an internet sports activities betting invoice in 2024.
