Thursday, Jan. 9, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
State Sen. Tim Johnson, R-Madison, is proposing the bill to prohibit casinos from cashing welfare checks. Sen. Billy Hewes III, R-Gulfport, is planning one to prohibit casinos from cashing welfare and payroll checks.
"It's one thing coming (to a casino) with some money that you allotted for your gaming experience.
"It's another thing to go in there with your complete paycheck or your complete allotment from the government and cash that and have the potential to lose that entire amount," Hewes said Wednesday.
Johnson and Hewes said they decided to file the bills after hearing from worried constituents.
"I think that the casinos would readily accept a bill like this," Johnson said. "They don't want to have the bad image of taking food from a baby's mouth."
Most Coast casinos follow the industry practice of cashing paychecks and some have a policy of not accepting welfare checks.
Bill Kilduff, president of the Mississippi Casino Operators Association, said the group has never discussed cashing payroll and entitlement checks.
"My feeling is it's up to the individual casinos to determine their operational policy," said Kilduff, who is assistant general manager and director of casino operations at the Isle of Capri in Biloxi.
"At the Isle, we don't cash welfare checks or child support checks. Cashing paychecks is something that's occurred forever in the industry, and it's a natural extension to come to Mississippi. All the casinos in Las Vegas cash paychecks," he said.
The Isle cashes paychecks for employees of approved companies, but the policy is not advertised, Kilduff said.
Copa Casino in Gulfport has a check-cashing promotion but does not cash welfare or child support checks. Chett Harrison, Copa marketing manager, said the casino cashes checks as a courtesy.
"All casinos cash paychecks," Harrison said. "It's just a courtesy. Most people can't cash them anywhere else."
Since lawmakers legalized dockside casinos in 1990, lawmakers have been reluctant to debate any gambling measures for fear opponents may try to outlaw all gambling.
Sen. Hob Bryan, D-Amory, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said he also is concerned about how easily people can cash checks or use automated teller machines at casinos.
"The issue goes beyond (welfare) checks," said Bryan, whose committee handles most gambling measures. "The issue is having money readily available at the casinos. They certainly have the ability to access credit card limits and on and on."
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