Page 12 - Mississippi/Louisiana Gaming News - Fall, 2026

Mississippi Gaming Hall of Fame 2026
12 >> From Page 11
2010 BP oil spill and the major Mississippi
River flood of 2011, which impacted many
casinos along the Mississippi River. Godfrey
is currently deputy director of the MGHA.
“As it worked out, in 1991 I had the good
fortune of losing an accounting job,” Godfrey
said, explaining how in October 1991, he
got a new job with the Mississippi State Tax
Commission. He was told he was going to
have to learn about the gaming industry. “I
had played poker at the deer camp a couple
of times, but I had never actually seen a slot
M I S S I S S I P P I G A M I N G N E W S machine in my life, legal or illegal,” Godfrey
continued.
But he did learn about the industry. “And
you know, within a year, in August of ’92, we
started opening up [casinos] just bam, bam,
bam, bam — and they kept coming. That
gaming train did not stop and it is still going
strong. This industry has continued to grow,
it’s had its setbacks, but this industry is very
vibrant and resilient.”
Godfrey’s job at the tax commission led
to his position at the Mississippi Gaming
Commission. He thanked his staff, those he
worked with as well as his wife Susan and
F A L L 2 0 2 6
his family.
“I will always cherish this award. It truly
means a lot to be considered for. Thank you,
operators, for nominating me and selecting
me. But the most important thing I will
cherish, it’s the people, it’s the people I met,
people I got to know, and that’s what means
the most for me.”
The evening concluded with continued
celebration of the inductees and the
industry’s ongoing contributions to
Mississippi’s economy and communities.
— David Grisham contributed to this story