Failed Online Gaming Bill To Be Reconsidered

When it comes to “sin” taxes, Mississippi has a public policy behavior and long track record of contradictory political behavior. The status of Mississippi, as the “gold buckle of the Bible Belt” and nationally active in evangelical clergy at the state Capitol, the “wages of sin” are enjoying by the taxpayers to tune of some $536 million that annually collected on drinking, smoking, and gambling. It also produces additional sales taxes that exceed $100 million under the sale of “sin tax”.

The last fiscal year in gaming, they generated $277.8 million in taxes, in the form of $130.9 million to country and $146.9 million of the state's portion. The total of gaming provided is 3% of the general income.

 

According to the Mississippi voters, they believe that they have been promised in the past that they are legalizing and taxing the alcohol sales, and gaming, to provide a support for public education and noble pursuits.

Since 1990's they start the legal casino gaming in Mississippi. The efforts to acquire a state lottery or other changes that had with opposition from the big casino companies. Similarly when the Democratic state Rep. Bobby Moak introduced the House Bill 1373 until 2012 session, the expansion of legal gaming of any kind in Mississippi reacted. Now, many of the big casino supported the Moak's play.

“Mississippi Lawful Internet Gaming Act” was a reaction to a 2011 US Justice Department ruling said the Interstate Wire Act of 1961 was annotated as only outlawing sports betting. However, the federal Wire Act was interpreted as outlawing all forms of gambling beyond the state lines.

The Moak argued that legislation was compelling to allow Mississippi's gaming industry to have more control to their own destiny. The bill – that died in committee after being referred to Gaming and Ways and Means – included the measure to allow all existing gaming licensees to offer online casino games that have a regulated and taxed by the state.

According to the Nevada and New Jersey, they have been already changed their law address to new online gaming competition. After the Justice Department ruling the six states, they have introduced legislation authorizing forms of online gaming from their states.

The Mississippi lawmakers have not heard the last online gaming issue as individual competition for the existing 30 commercial casinos had gross gaming income of $2.39 billion in 2011. The lowest level since 1998, they declined state's 2011 gross gaming income.