Mississippi lawmakers pleased with casino ban plan

Gina Holland

Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2000 | 9:28 a.m.

JACKSON, Miss. - Compulsive gamblers who recognize their problems will soon be able to limit their access to Mississippi casinos, though some lawmakers said more restrictions may be needed.

The Gaming Commission is expected to endorse on Thursday a regulation that will permit people to ask casinos to keep them from gambling there for two years.

Commission Director Chuck Patton told lawmakers that other states with casinos are also considering self-ban regulations to help problem gamblers.

Several members of the Legislative Budget Committee questioned Tuesday whether the Gaming Commission is offering enough help to Mississippians who have become gambling addicts since casinos opened in 1992.

"They need to be doing a lot more than they're doing," said Sen. Ron Farris, R-Hattiesburg.

Patton said casino workers are trained to recognize signs that someone is addicted. He also said casinos must make available a toll-free phone number for assistance.

Sen. Deborah Dawkins, D-Pass Christian, said there should be more marketing on the coast about available help.

"I haven't seen anything jump out that says 'if you have a problem, call here,"' she said. "Everyone knows the warning signs of cancer. They ought to develop an early warning system for gambling problems."

Since 1996, Mississippi lawmakers have given the Gaming Commission money to fund help for compulsive gambling. Casinos also contribute to the cost of a nonprofit group.

If the Gaming Commission approves the new regulation, it would take effect in October. Someone who requests to be banned from a casino could not change their mind for two years. After that, any request for reinstatement would take 30 days to process.

Patton said casino executives have supported the proposal.

On another issue, Patton was asked what the impact would be if the state raised casino taxes. There is an 8 percent state tax now on the 30 casinos, which is expected to generate about $230 million next year. Local taxes can be up to 4 percent.

Patton said he would not take a stand on a tax increase but that some casinos could be hurt by any hike.

"We have some casinos that are struggling now," he said.

Lawmakers have refused in the past to take up gambling tax increases, though some lawmakers have suggested them as a way to fund teacher pay raises.