Jackson Casino Bill Dead in Mississippi, Committee Chair Says Votes Not There
The bill to establish Jackson, MS, as a site for a commercial casino resort has collapsed in the state legislature.
House Bill 1879 — known as the “City of Jackson Revitalization Act” — aimed to permit a physical gaming establishment close to the Mississippi State Capital. The state has six commercial casinos and 20 riverboat casinos situated along the Gulf Coast and the Mississippi River.
HB 1879 aimed to broaden commercial gambling by introducing slot machines, live dealer table games, and sports betting to the central region of the state. The six Democrats who proposed the measure also aimed to establish a fund to offer tax incentives for investors in Jackson interested in redeveloping distressed properties within a newly formed Capitol Complex Improvement District.
The successful bidder for the casino, had HB 1879 experienced an alternative outcome, would have needed to contribute at least $500 million to the venture. The chance would have encountered a yearly licensing fee of $10 million, funds intended to aid the blight redevelopment tax credits program.
Jackson Casino Legislation Put On Hold
HB 1879 was approved by the House Ways and Means Committee on February 26, but when it reached the full House floor that same day, the committee chairman chose to table the legislation.
Rep. John “Trey” Lamar (R-Senatobia) stated that it became clear early on that the GOP-led Mississippi Legislature lacked sufficient votes for the casino bill, which would need a three-fifths majority support in both the House and Senate to be approved.
"We didn’t have the votes. We felt like it was worth a conversation,” Lamar told Mississippi Today.
“Last year, it got brought up in committee and didn’t get brought out of committee. This year, it made it out of committee and got brought out to the floor,” Lamar added.
For the time being, it seems that a casino project will not serve as Jackson's economic rescue. The city could definitely benefit from having one.
Since 2010, the capital city of Mississippi has seen a decrease of almost 30,000 residents, equating to 17% of its population. Blacks represent over 80% of urban inhabitants, with over 30% of them experiencing poverty.
The citywide yearly household income is just over $43,200, which is nearly 50% of the national average of $80,600. Fewer than three out of ten Jackson residents who are 25 years old or older possess a Bachelor’s degree or higher.
Mississippi Gambling Regulations
The Jackson casino legislation appears to be stalled, just like a law aimed at prohibiting smoking in casinos within the state; however, Mississippi legislators are still exploring various gaming initiatives.
House Bill 1302 aims to broaden sports wagering to online platforms. At present, wagers on sports need to be placed in person at a brick-and-mortar casino. HB 1302 has passed the House but is encountering significant resistance in the Senate.
If the upper chamber does not support HB 1302, Lamar has submitted House Bill 1881. That law would raise the state's tax on commercial gaming income from 12% to 16%. Lamar states that this would aid in recovering the state's tax revenue losses caused by the prohibition of online sports betting.
