Gaming leaders: Mississippi’s rules keeping industry clean

Thursday, May 11, 2000 | 10:30 a.m.

Coast casino executives and others at the Southern Gaming Summit on Wednesday said the industry has fared well after following Nevada's lead by not limiting the number casino licenses and by making casinos reapply for a license every two years.

"Louisiana created its own monster by having just 15 licenses," said former casino executive Mark Bradley of Baton Rouge.

Bradley was an employee of Jazz Enterprises when the casino company was applying for a Louisiana gambling license. He said he testified for four days against two of the former Louisiana governor's co-defendants, Cecil Brown and Bobby Johnson. Both men were convicted of extortion and other crimes.

Bradley now works for The Arkel Group, a commercial construction and engineering group in Baton Rouge.

"Mississippi does a much better job in regulating gaming," Bradley said. "Louisiana should have followed suit."

Bernie Burkholder, Treasure Bay CEO and president of the Mississippi Gaming Association, said he doesn't expect any fallout here from the Louisiana casino license scandal.

"The Gaming Commission and the properties police themselves to ensure their credibility in the state," Burkholder said. "Some people will say the industry has been fortunate. I'd like to credit the Gaming Commission and the industry with a lot of hard work."

But the state's luck could run out.

"Political corruption can affect any industry, and it has," said Ron Rychlak, a University of Mississippi law professor. "It could happen anywhere there's licensing and government regulations."

Rychlak said the gambling industry shouldn't be affected by the Edwards case.

"I don't think that should be a black mark on the industry," he said.