House Bill 1879, which would have granted state permission for a casino within 6,000 feet of the Mississippi State Capitol, was effectively killed when House Ways and Means Committee chairman Trey Lamar (R-Senatobia) made a motion to table the proposed legislation. A voice vote sealed its fate, stopping the measure from advancing further.
Casino Advocates Will Likely Try Again
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Chris Bell (D-Jackson), was disappointed in this outcome but vowed to continue fighting for a Jackson casino in next year’s session. Proponents of the Jackson casino legislation contended that an urban casino could help stimulate the downtown economy by drawing in new business and tourism, hopefully counteracting ongoing economic difficulties.
Chairman Lamar acknowledged the proposal’s potential but admitted it lacked the support necessary to clear the House. He noted that the bill hadn’t gotten out of committee the previous year and added it had made substantial progress in 2025. Lamar remained optimistic that further discussions could garner enough political will to see a Jackson casino become a reality.
Rep. Bell did a good job explaining (the bill) and having some conversation. That’s what happened today, but the votes were not there yet.
Trey Lamar, House Ways and Means Committee chairman
Mississippi law limits casino development to locations along the Gulf Coast, the Mississippi River, and Native American land. Under the new legislation, Jackson operators would have had to invest at least $500 million and hold an existing gaming license. The bill also included measures for compensating casinos in Vicksburg if they lost business due to a new Jackson gaming venue.
Mississippi’s Gambling Landscape Remains Uncertain
House Bill 1879’s failure reflects the ongoing struggle between economic development advocates in Jackson and those seeking to protect established casino revenue streams. Despite the legislation’s safeguards, lawmakers representing districts with existing casinos remained firmly against the proposal, citing market cannibalization concerns.
Areas like Vicksburg cannot afford to have their markets destroyed by having a casino put in Jackson.
Robert Johnson, House Minority Leader
The rejection of the Jackson casino bill coincides with rising tensions within Mississippi’s gambling sector. The House Ways and Means Committee recently passed a proposal to increase land-based casino taxes from 12% to 16%, a move meant to offset lost revenue from the state Senate’s failure to legalize online wagering.
Although the Jackson casino bill did not make it this year, supporters like Bell remain eager to reintroduce the legislation in future legislative sessions. Mississippi’s broader gambling landscape remains in a state of flux as lawmakers continue debating the industry’s future direction, especially regarding the likely inevitable introduction of iGaming and online sports betting.
