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Mississippi Governor Signs Onshore Casino Bill

BILOXI, Mississippi – As reported by the Biloxi Sun Herald: "Gov. Haley Barbour gave thousands of Mississippians the economic security to recover from Hurricane Katrina when he signed the onshore casino bill into law Monday.

"The law allows casinos to build back on land 800 feet from where gambling barges could be legally sited. It opens the way for millions of dollars in new investment and thousands of jobs. Barbour signed the legislation in the parking lot of a WIN job center, a state employment office, on Pass Road in Biloxi just after 1 p.m.

"…The bill was one of several passed during a special session of the Legislature that Barbour called to deal with the aftermath of the hurricane. Only the governor can set the agenda for a special session, and he made onshore casinos a top priority.

"Barbour noted that Coast casinos employed more than 17,000 people and generated about $500 million in annual state revenue from taxes on gambling, income and sales before Hurricane Katrina.

"…The House of Representatives carried the effort forward once Barbour convened the Legislature. The onshore bill and another bill dealing with state tideland leases emerged from the Housing Gaming Committee, chaired by Rep. Bobby Moak, D-Bogue Chitto. The Senate, led by Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck, awaited the House bills before taking action. Politically powerful religious-based organizations, such as the American Family Foundation radio network, had lined up against allowing casinos to come ashore.

"…Many representatives of the Coast casino industry and business community, who had watched the action from the galleries of the Capitol, stood in the jobs center parking lot with bright smiles…"

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