Page 4 - Mississippi/Louisiana Gaming News - Summer, 2024

Mississippi Gaming and Hospitality Association
Another successful year for MS gaming industry
Official Newsmagazine of the Mississippi Gaming Industry
SUMMER 2024 Volume XXI Issue 2
STAFF
W. Michael Sunderman
Publisher michael@m2mediacorp.com
Lori Beth Susman
General Manager / Executive Editor loribeth@m2mediacorp.com
Mary Sunderman
Associate Publisher mary@m2mediacorp.com
David Grisham
Contributing Editor david@m2mediacorp.com
Amy Chataginer
Business Manager manager@m2mediacorp.com
Designers
Brian Treadaway
READER SERVICES
Subscriptions
For information on subscribing to Mississippi Gaming News,
a quarterly publication, email loribeth@m2mediacorp.com.
Mississippi Gaming News
Phone: (228) 385-7707 Fax: (228) 385-7705 12268 Intraplex Parkway, Gulfport, MS 39503
Change of Address
Phone: (228) 385-7707 loribeth@m2mediacorp.com
The U.S. Postal Service does not automatically forward magazines. You don’t want to miss a single issue.
Copyright, 2024
Mississippi Gaming News
(MGN) is owned and published by M2 Media Corp., 12268 Intraplex Parkway, Gulfport, MS 39503. MGN is produced in cooperation with the Mississippi Gaming and Hospitality Association. The contents of MGN are copyrighted. All rights are reserved. Reproduction in part or whole without written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.
By Larry Gregory
I am pleased to have the opportunity in this column to reflect on another successful year for Mississippi’s gaming industry. I
also want to take the time to recognize the role of our casino GMs and look ahead to
a great industry event. As I write this, we are winding down to the final days of the 2024 legislative session. Most bills are
in conference
and are being
debated by
the House and
Senate as they
work to come up
with a bill that
both chambers
can call law.
MGHA, with its partner M2 Media, recently produced the 2024 Annual Report (read more about the report on page
8). This report gives a recap of gaming revenue, taxes, and visitors for 2023.
The cover page features individual photos
of general managers at our 26 casinos. They play a crucial role in shaping each property’s success and future direction; I knew it was time to showcase the significant role they play in our industry by placing them front and center. They have paved the road to where we are today in terms of success.
Our casino GMs are where the rubber meets the road for our industry. Their primary responsibilities include:
• Strategic decision making
• Overall operations management
• Public presentation
• Strategic Vision
We are fast approaching MGHA’s largest
event of the year: the 2024 Celebration of Gaming and 6th Annual Hall of Fame Dinner Gala, set for Thursday, June 27, at Beau Rivage in Biloxi. The 2024 class of outstanding honorees are:
Industry Pioneer: Tim Hinkley
Industry Influencer: Jon Lucas
Industry Regulator/Government Official:
William “Bill” Gresham, Jr.
Industry Regulator/Government Official:
Thomas “Tom” Gresham
Our industry continues to serve as an economic engine driving Mississippi’s economy while also driving tourism, the fourth largest industry in the state. By continuing to utilize ingenuity, vision, hard work, and genuine care for our guests, together we can only imagine what the future holds for gaming. We look forward to another great year ahead.
Larry Gregory is the executive director of the Mississippi Gaming and Hospitality Association. He can be reached at lgregory@msgaming.org.
Here are a
couple of bills
we have been
tracking at the
Mississippi
Gaming & Hospitality Association (MGHA):
• SB2780 deals with the Secretary of State and his authority to approve leases located on public trust tidelands, as well as the authority to determine sites allowed
to have authorized gaming, assuming Mississippi Gaming Commission approval.
• HB774, the Mississippi Mobile Sports Wagering Act, which would authorize off- premise mobile sports wagering in the state, whereas currently it can only be conducted on the premises of a licensed gaming establishment.
As of April, both bills are in a conference committee, and we should know soon whether these will become law.
We are thankful for the leadership provided by our public officials, especially Gov. Tate Reeves, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, Speaker of the House Jason White, House Gaming Chairman Casey Eure and Senate Gaming Chairman David Blount.
Larry Gregory
Reports • Industry Information • Responsible Gaming News
www.MSGAMING.ORG
4MISSISSIPPI GAMING NEWS
SUMMER 2024