Questions over Coast casino site rules turns into Twitter war with Mississippi governor
Mississippi Gaming Commission Chairman and Gulfport attorney Alben Hopkins Sr. was challenged repeatedly at his recent confirmation hearing about changing casino site laws after his proposal in 2016 that would have allowed Coast casinos to locate without direction connection to the water.
“We’ll be in touch,” Sen. David Blount, chairman of the Gaming Committee, told Hopkins at the end of the hearing in Jackson on March 24.
Now, the contention around his reappointment has escalated into a Twitter battle on social media, with Republican Gov. Tate Reeves defending his nomination of Hopkins while criticizing Blount, a Democrat, and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, a Republican, for Blount’s appointment as chairman.
Blount has tweeted why he questions whether Hopkins should serve a third term on the board. Gaming Commission members serve two four-year terms, but the chairman can serve three terms.
“Mr. Hopkins has refused to take a position on whether he would continue to push changing the long-established rule if confirmed,” Sen. Blount tweeted. “My only goal is to maintain the current rule — in place since Katrina — regarding where casinos may be located on the Gulf Coast. I am happy to support Mr. Hopkins if he will make that commitment.”
Blount shared with Y’all Politics a letter he sent to the committee expressing opinions from the casino operators representing nine of the 12 Coast casinos. Some were opposed to Hopkins’ nomination or changes to the casino site laws. Comments from IP Casino, Hard Rock Casino and Beau Rivage Casino Resort were not included.
Chett Harrison, general manager of Golden Nugget Casino Biloxi, said the casino fully supports Blount’s desire for consistency in the casino regulations and what constitutes a legal casino site.
“Island View is opposed to the confirmation of Mr. Hopkins unless he will commit to leaving current casino location rules unchanged,” wrote Rick Carter, co-owner of Island View Casino in Gulfport.
While casinos generally oppose competition in what they say is already a tight South Mississippi market, it is extremely rare for Mississippi casino operators to publicly express their objection to a sitting member of the Gaming Commission.
In 2019, the casino operators expressed “serious concerns” about the regulation of casinos in Mississippi since Hopkins was appointed chairman of the Gaming Commission in 2015.
Contentious casino hearing
At issue is Hopkins’ refusal to clearly answer questions about his intention to change the laws about where casinos could be built on the Coast.
Blount said he had a long phone conversation with Hopkins before the hearing about his proposed change in 2016 to the administrative rule that a casino must have control of the land all the way to the water’s edge. It was later withdrawn from the Gaming Commission agenda, but would have changed the definition of where legal casinos can locate on the Coast.
Blount asked him several times if he would consider changing the laws that would greatly expand legal casino sites beyond the rule the Legislature established following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Three times RW Development was turned down by the Gaming Commission because the developer doesn’t control the property on Veterans Avenue and U.S. 90 to the water’s edge.
Hopkins said there are many issues with that regulation.
“If you go back and research, in one area the high water line was the bulkhead; in another where it hit the sand,” Hopkins said.
Blount asked if he believes in the rule as it exists today and asked Hopkins again for a direct answer.
“But I have answered your question,” Hopkins said.
“I don’t know that you have,” Blount said.
“The commission writes the rules,” Blount said and it would take only two members of the Gaming Commission to change rule 1.4 governing legal sites, which he said Hopkins previously proposed to change.
“It was never called up by me. It was taken off the agenda,” Hopkins said. When he hears all the facts of a case, Hopkins said he would rule “Under my oath, before my God, to base it on the laws of Mississippi.”
Questions from Coast lawmakers
Sen. Scott DeLano, R-Biloxi, asked Hopkins if he thought Mississippi needs to allow internet sports betting to compete with neighboring states that already have it.
“Are you hearing anything from operators that we should know about or that would be something helpful with us with respect to sports book and how to address it in the future?” DeLano asked.
“Our executive director, of course, is dealing with them daily,” Hopkins said of the casino operators, “and I have gotten nothing from him that is something that is important for us to take up. Seems to be working well.”
Legislation to approve online sports betting died this year when a handful of casino operators in the state objected to allowing it outside brick and mortar casinos, said Casey Eure, chairman of the House Gaming Committee.
Hopkins said what Mississippi does need is more agents to enforce casino regulations.
“In the entire industry they look to Mississippi as the leader in the casino industry and I want to keep it that way,” Hopkins said of other states. “I believe I have as long as I’ve been chairman and I promise you that I shall do that as long as I am chairman.”
If Hopkins isn’t confirmed, the Gaming Commission will operate with the two current members until the governor appoints a new member. That person would be confirmed next year when the Legislature returns to session.
This story was originally published March 30, 2022 at 3:33 PM.
