Mr. Jay McDaniel, Deputy Director, Mississippi Gaming Commision spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson at the Club’s October 16, 2018 meeting. He discussed the history and extent of legalized gambling in the state and the role of the commission in supervising gaming. Mr. McDaniel is an attorney and a graduate of the Mississippi College School of Law. Prior to joining the Gaming Commission, he practiced law with the Butler Snow lawfirm.
Per its website, “The mission of the Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC) is to enforce the Gaming Control Act and Charitable Gaming Laws of the State of Mississippi. The MGC will establish and enforce regulations under the authority of those laws in such a manner that will ensure the integrity of the State of Mississippi and maintain the public confidence in both the charitable gaming and casino gaming industries by working in conjunction with the industry. The Mississippi Gaming Commission will work in concert with international, national, state, county, local regulatory and law enforcement agencies to establish a safe and crime-free environment. In addition, the MGC will ensure economic development that is in both the best interest and safety of the citizens of the State of Mississippi.”
According to Mr. McDaniel, Mississippi currently has 28 supervised casinos plus the Choctaw Indian Nation's Pearl River Casino. The Mississippi Legislature legalized dockside casino gambling with the passage of House Bill 2 in the 1990 Special Legislative Session. This bill established the Mississippi Gaming Control Act to be in force and effect from and after its adoption on June 29, 1990. The Gaming Control Act established the Mississippi Gaming Commission to regulate dockside casinos. The Commission regulates charitable gaming pursuant to the Charitable Bingo Law. The Mississippi State Tax Commission initially regulated gaming in order to prepare the Commission to assume this responsibility October 1, 1993. The Commission is headed by three Commissioners who are appointed by the Governor. Each Commissioner serves staggered four-year terms. The law also provides that no Commissioner will serve more than ten years of total service. The Governor appoints the Chairman. The Commissioners are responsible for hiring a full-time Executive Director who is responsible for all authorized positions.
The Charitable Gaming Law authorized the play of bingo in order to fund groups, associations or clubs that are registered with the Secretary of State’s Office as non-profit organizations. It also limits the times and number of games that are allowable each day and week.
The first regulated bingo hall opened in October 1992. Charitable gaming is now conducted in about half of the counties in Mississippi.
Mr. McDaniel noted that the 2018 Special Session of the legislature authorized a lottery for the State of Mississippi, but that the Lottery will be supervised by a Lottery Corporation and not the gaming commission. He also discussed the introduction of Sports betting which has greatly increased gaming in the state and has proven to be a boon to gaming activities since it was legalized by a May 2018 U. S. Supreme Court decision.
We thank Mr. McDaniel for his presentation to our club and for his service to the citizens of Mississippi. He is shown in the following photos during hs presentation and following it with club president Anna Powers and club member Jeff Adcock who introduced him.
