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A new casino proposal could bring brick-and-mortar casino gambling to Jackson, Mississippi.
The proposal to bring a casino to Jackson may seem like a straightforward business deal, but there’s a catch, as state law needs to be amended to make it happen.
Mississippi’s capital city, Jackson, has long been excluded from Mississippi’s casino industry, owing to a decades-old law that restricts gaming to specific areas along the Gulf Coast and the Mississippi River. However, a proposal to bring a casino to Jackson was recently floated, only to be met with resistance from state lawmakers.
In March 2024, a Mississippi House representative Trey Lamar made it clear that he would not be moving forward with the casino House Bill 1989, effectively putting the brakes on the proposal.
Another opponent was former Governor Haley Barbour, who took office in 2003. At that time, he was strongly against expanding gaming into counties without existing casinos. It seems he’s had a change of heart, as he’s part of the group now pushing for the casino in Jackson.
Proposal cites economic growth as pros of project
Now in a turn of events, a coalition of five businessmen including the former Governor is presenting a case to state lawmakers that their casino proposal can help reverse the capital city’s economic sruggles.
According to a WLBT3 publication, Richard McNeel, one of the five businessmen offering the proposal, said
“We have this opportunity sitting in front of us to do something about all this and bring in economic development without asking the taxpayers for a dollar.”
The group also noted that no state funding is required, as the casino company will cover the costs.
They are proposing that the developer pay an annual “impact fee” of $10 million. According to William Richardson, one of the businessmen behind the proposal, this fee is essentially a way to help fund additional growth and development in the city.
The $10 million impact fee would be used to create a revolving loan fund, which would provide financing for other businesses and developers looking to invest in Jackson.
Casino proposal raises location concern
The proposal for a casino in Jackson has raised several concerns regarding its location.
Richardson suggests placing the casino within a mile of the State Capitol to transform the area and bring jobs and people to the city. However, the group added that they do not think a specific site is necessary, leaving it up to the casino company to choose the most cost-effective location.
Nonetheless, Jackson is facing a population decline. In fact, the city has the fastest negative population growth in the nation at -6.5% according to 2022 U.S. Census Bureau data.
Richardson proposes that the city needs an attraction to draw people back in. He suggests that a casino could be the answer, citing the city’s existing daily traffic and a potential market of 7.8 million people within a 300-mile radius. Hence, he believes that a casino located within a mile of the State Capitol in Downtown Jackson could be a turning point.
The proposal is set to be discussed further when the legislative session begins next month. While there are still many details to be worked out, the group is hopeful that their plan can help bring new life and economic vigor to the city of Jackson.
