Big Black ban approved by Gaming Commission

Specifically barred under the regulation is the site on the Big Black in eastern Warren County where Multi Gaming Management/Horseshoe Gaming proposed a casino, hotel and a NASCAR-style racetrack.

The regulation, approved 3-1 with no discussion, takes effect in 30 days.

Commissioner Robert Engram voted against the change and said he does not want to tie the hands of future Gaming Commissions.

The commission has prided itself on spurring competition in the industry. But commissioners in December 1996 rejected the Multi Gaming site.

The city of Vicksburg and three of the existing casinos in that city opposed the Big Black site, mostly on grounds it would intercept customer traffic out of Jackson.

In 1997, a Hinds County judge in a lawsuit filed by a Warren County landowner ruled the site is legal under state law. The Gaming Commission has appealed the ruling to the state Supreme Court.

The chief opponent, landowner E.L. Pennebaker Jr., has said through lawyer Bill Spell Sr. that because of the judge's ruling, the Gaming Commission cannot enforce a regulation that would exclude that Big Black site. A lawsuit is possible.

The regulation limits casinos to areas "west of the naturally occurring levee system or bluffs from Warren County to the border between Wilkinson County, Miss., and West Felciana Parish, La., except vessels may be located on the Yazoo River within Warren County and the Big Black River where it forms the border between Warren and Claiborne counties."

Mississippi law limits casinos to counties with navigable waters along the Mississippi River and its tributaries or along the Gulf Coast even though the gaming houses are permanently moored and operate dockside.

Also today, the commission approved for public comment a proposed regulation to restrict the movements of minors in gambling places.

In many casinos, including Mississippi, minors can walk through gambling areas to get to hotel rooms, stores, restaurants and other areas.

Mississippi law bars anyone under 21 from gambling in a casino or being employed at a casino.

Gaming enforcement agents did a sweep of casinos in Vicksburg and Greenville in June and found three minors.

Gaming Commission executive director Chuck Patton has said he is concerned by the use of fake IDs and "unattended minors - too young to play - left by their parents in a car in the parking lot."

"Our aim is to protect the minor and recruit the casinos to help us," he said.

The proposed regulation would be expected to keep minors off casino property during some hours, such midnight to 8 a.m., or at times when restaurants are closed or other facilities serving youngsters are not available.

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