Opinion

Opinion: Mississippi Choctaw casino will hurt the community

Monday, May 31, 2010

"Today, gaming plays a significant role in Mississippi’s economy. Non-tribal casinos pay roughly 12 percent of their gaming revenue as a tax (an eight percent State tax of $172 million and an additional $141 million to local governments in 2009). This 12 percent is approximately $313 million a year to Mississippi governments and the State portion represents a minimum of four percent to Mississippi’s General Fund (used in building infrastructure, funding education, transportation, and public safety). While the tribal government may make voluntary contributions to a community, they are exempt from paying any gaming tax to the State or local governments.

The Tribal Compact, signed by Gov. Fordice and Chief Martin, recognizes the increased cost of gaming on the State of Mississippi. In the Compact, the MBCI and the State of Mississippi agreed to mutually budget for infrastructure costs (roads, sewer, etc…) and increased law enforcement costs. However, to date, MBCI has had no discussions for such revenue sharing at the State or local level. Therefore, if the casino were to be built today, the citizens of Jones County would bear the burden for the infrastructure and law enforcement costs outside of the Bogue Homa Reservation site.

According to information from the MBCI, the new casino will include 500-700 slot machines and video poker machines, a snack shop inside a 27,000 square foot metal building with a “nice brick facade.” This casino represents an $18 million investment by the Choctaws at a time when the Golden Moon Casino is closed down five days a week due to the negative impact of the economic recession.

According to a study by Capital Advisors LLC, casinos of this sort draw over 70% of their customers from within 35 miles. Further, the National Opinion Research Center found that “adults living within 50 miles of a casino had double the probability of pathological or problem gambling.” This means that the bulk of revenues for the proposed casino would come out of our local economy. At a time when local governments’ revenues have declined, opening a casino in Jones County would only further diminish local tax receipts and place a higher burden on the local governments to maintain current levels of funding for existing public safety, infrastructure, etc."

Get the Story:
State Auditor Stacey Pickering: Looking out for Jones County and all Mississippians (The Laurel Leader-Call 5/30)