Summary:
- The bill would stop competition regarding the 12 existing casinos on the coast.
- Public leases for gambling/gambling services would cease near the beach.
- The state would claim ownership of private waterfront property.
The state of Mississippi seems to want more control over the coastal waterfront such as in the Mississippi Gulf Coast (pictured) and plans to secure a monopoly for the casinos located in the area.
A new bill is floating around that would be a huge change to property law since Mississippi was erected in 1817. Coast attorneys are fighting back against the measure, which was recently sent to lawmakers. The attorneys see several negatives in the bill that would affect the state for years to come.
What’s at Stake?
SB 2780 would seek to stop any competition against the coastal casinos. There are currently 12 in operation, and the measure would stop public leases for gambling or gambling-related services near the beach in areas like Bay St. Louis, Biloxi, and Gulfport.
The state would be allowed to claim ownership of property along the waterfront that has been private for many decades. Local governments would also be forced to sign state leases on waterfront property they do not control.
Bringing Stability
Senator Mike Thompson is a co-sponsor of the measure, and he says it will bring stability to the casino market. It will also give local governments a uniform framework to operate via harbors and create amenities on the waterfront for locals and tourists, such as piers.
Gaming Commission chairman, Senator David Blount, introduced the bill and stated it would create a stable business environment for casinos. According to Blount, state lawmakers were surprised when the Commission recently approved a casino in Biloxi across from the beach due to a lease between Harrison County and the city.
The new law will require all casinos to have a tidelands lease from the office of the Secretary of State. Casinos will need a connection to the water to build on land. Reportedly, all casinos in the state are proponents of the new measure.
Now, questions have arisen about whether the new Biloxi casino will be affected by the impending law. Blount says that casinos with site approval from the Gaming Commission will not be affected. However, attorney Michael Cavanaugh disagrees.
Cavanaugh is the attorney behind RW Development, the company behind the Biloxi casino project. The attorney says that a provision of the new law will prevent the casino from being created. Only time will tell if the Gambling Commission chairman is telling the truth or if issues will arise for the Biloxi casino plans due to the new measure.
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