Page 20 - Mississippi/Louisiana Gaming News - Fall, 2022

MGC commissioners play an important role
JACKSON — The Mississippi Legislature legalized dockside casino gambling with the passage of House Bill 2 in the 1990 Special Legislative Session. This bill established the Mississippi Gaming Control Act to be
in force and effect from and after its adoption on June 29, 1990. It was the Gaming Control Act that established the Mississippi Gaming Commission to regulate dockside casinos.
The Mississippi State Tax Commission initially regulated gaming in order to prepare the Commission to assume this responsibility on Oct. 1, 1993.
The Commission is headed by three commissioners who are appointed by the governor. Each commissioner serves staggered four-year terms. The law also provides that no commissioner will serve more than 10 years of total service. The governor also appoints the chairman.
Among other tasks, the commissioners are responsible for hiring a full-time executive director responsible for all authorized positions.
The Gaming Commission also
regulates charitable gaming pursuant
to the Charitable Bingo Law, which authorized the play of bingo in order to fund groups, associations and clubs that are registered with the Secretary of State’s Office as nonprofit organizations.
It also limits the times and number of games that are allowable each day and week. The first regulated bingo hall opened in October 1992. Charitable gaming is now conducted in about half of the counties in Mississippi.
MGC Executive Directors
Royal Walker — 1991-1992 Bruce Nourse (interim) — 1992-1993 Lorenzo Creighton —1993-1994 General Paul A. Harvey — 1994-1998 Chuck Patton — 1998-2001 Larry Gregory — 2001-2011 Allen Godfrey — 2011-2022
Jay McDaniel (right) — 2022-
MGC Boards Through The Years
Bill Gresham Victor Smith Len Blackwell A.J. Pitts Robin Robinson Howard Sanders Howard Sanders John Hairston Wally Carter Jerry Griffith Francis C. Lee
Stuart Irby
Bill Gresham
Bill Gresham
Len Blackwell
Len Blackwell
Len Blackwell
Jerry St. Pé
Jerry St. Pé
John Hairston Major-Gen. (ret.) Al Hopkins Major-Gen. (ret.) Al Hopkins
Capt. Robert Engram Capt. Robert Engram Victor Smith Victor Smith Howard Sanders Nolen Canon Nolen Canon Nolen Canon Nolen Canon Tom Gresham Tom Gresham
20 MISSISSIPPI GAMING NEWS FALL 2022