Page 4 - Mississippi/Louisiana Gaming News - Spring, 2023

Guest Editorial
MGC exec director: Much accomplished in 2022
Official Newsmagazine of the Mississippi Gaming Industry
SPRING 2023 Volume XX Issue 1
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Mississippi Gaming News
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By Jay McDaniel
Looking back, I believe the Mississippi gaming industry can be proud of what was accomplished last year. Our casinos continue to offer quality gaming and non-gaming products in an atmosphere that visitors can
enjoy. I want
to especially thank our operators for making health and safety a top priority for those working and visiting our properties.
When you
employ more
than 15,000
employees,
and handle nearly 20 million visitors each year, it can’t be overstated how important it is to stay attentive to
any issue that might impact a safe atmosphere for workers and patrons.
Our operators worked hard in cooperation with state and local
officials and law enforcement this past year to carefully provide safe gaming environments across our state. This is an area we will emphasize over and over again in the years ahead.
When we saw record gaming revenues in 2021, we knew it would be a difficult task to maintain those revenue levels, but the industry did well to avoid a significant retraction from the previous year. The 26 licensed casinos ended 2022 with nearly $2.6 billion in total gaming revenue. The coastal market finished with $1.6 billion, a fraction of a percent off the record-setting revenue that it had in 2021. These revenue numbers were healthy despite the increased competition from the launching of online sports wagering in Louisiana
and Arkansas.
We also saw two significant
acquisitions of gaming properties in 2022, one that closed in Natchez, and one that closed in Tunica in early 2023. As always, increased regional and national competition will be one of the primary threats to watch and adapt to as necessary.
As it has in the past, the Mississippi Gaming Commission will endeavor
to provide a strict but fair regulatory environment. We are working with operators currently to roll out field trials of technological advancements that we are seeing in the industry. Cashless wagering at both slots and table games is something I expect us to test more of in the coming year, as well as more improvements in mobile wagering on premises, to the extent our laws will allow it. We will maintain efforts to review regulations and make amendments in any areas where
we feel requirements have become outdated or unnecessarily burdensome. We will stay focused on responsible gaming, and emphasize to the industry the importance of using every means available to make sure patrons enjoy gaming responsibly.
I want to thank the Mississippi Gaming & Hospitality Association and its members for working with us to share information and ideas so that this market maintains its status as a leader in the industry. I have no doubt that a professional level of cooperation will continue.
I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday season and I wish you all the best in the coming year and years ahead.
Jay McDaniel is executive director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission. He can be reached at JMcDaniel@mgc. ms.gov.
Jay McDaniel
Industry Information • Reports • Responsible Gaming
www.MSGAMING.ORG
4MISSISSIPPI GAMING NEWS SPRING 2023