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14 Spring 2015 The Mississippi Lawyer This measure was a big step to show the industry that Mississippi was not ignorant to their concerns and that our state want- ed to see the industry thrive and remain competitive. Unfortunately before any casino could take advantage of the new measure August 2005 brought a storm event that no casino on the gulf coast was prepared for and that required even more action by lawmakers. After Hurricane Katrina not one casi- no was left operational on the gulf coast. Like most everything within view of the coastal beaches the casinos were destroyed. Not only were they destroyed but as the barges were lifted off of their moorings and floated inland they destroyed much of what was left in their path. For the casinos to come back with an improved product it would take more than just rebuilding. Measures had to be taken to help ensure such a catastrophe didnt happen again. Not only were some of the largest employers on the gulf coast out of operation but the state was losing valuable tax revenue every day. Within weeks Governor Haley Barbour called a special session to address hurri- cane recovery with one of the major issues being how to assist the casino industry in recovery. After much debate lawmakers determined that an adjustment of a few hundred feet would allow the properties to rebuild in a more permanent manner and still be consistent with the original concept of dockside gaming. The phrase shore-based gaming was promot- ed by the operators to point out that this was not a move to expand gaming all over the state but merely to allow permanent structures within sight of the water to avoid another devastating event. Lawmakers approved the measure to bring casinos onshore 800 feet from the mean high water line of state waters and Governor Barbour signed the bill into law on October 17 2005. The new law was carried out swiftly and with much thought and allowed the coastal casinos to return in better form and without great expansion of gaming across the state that many feared at the time. In addition to Hurricane Katrina the last decade saw many events that altered the state of gaming in this jurisdiction. Just as Mississippi saw its highest gaming revenues hit almost 2.9 billion in 2007 the recession hit and numbers started to decline. Additionally gaming was grow- ing in nearby states and in the Midwest resulting in more competition. In 2011 the Mississippi River flooded and closed all but 2 of the 19 river casinos temporari- ly. As a result revenues have been in a slow decline over the last 8 years but the industry is still considered strong and weathered the recession quite well. The most significant impact has been seen in Tunica which is still a resilient gaming market but not nearly the one that was once ranked as one of the highest revenue markets in the United States. Maintaining the Product and the Publics Confidence As our gaming industry continues to grow one of the most important aspects to maintain is public confidence in that industry. Mississippi has done well to see that the industry is properly regulated and held to the standards that lawmakers put in place. The Mississippi Gaming Commis- sion investigates all gaming operators and the principals of the companies that own and are affiliated with them. These inves- Legalized Gaming in Mississippi A Young Industry with an Eventful History