Page 8 - MGHA Annual Report, 2019

REGIONAL GAMING
TOMMY SHEPHERD, A PARTNER WITH JONES WALKER, EXAMINES GAMING DEVELOPMENTS IN THOSE STATES WHERE MANY MISSISSIPPI CUSTOMERS ORIGINATE.
ALABAMA
Now that Mississippi has authorized a state lottery, Alabama is one of only six states left without a lottery and the only state in the Southeast that does not have one. There has been signi cant pressure on Alabama’s governing bodies to address the lack of a lottery in the state, and it is expected that there will at least be proposed legislation in the coming year.
ARKANSAS
On Nov. 6, 2018, Arkansas voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing the state to issue licenses to operate four full- edged casinos, which operations may include sports betting. Previously, only electronic games of skill were authorized at two racetracks in the state. The two newly authorized locations are Pope and Jefferson County, but both locations must receive letters of support from respective county judges or courts, as well as support from a city’s mayor, if applicable. Pine Bluff, Arkansas, in Jefferson County, has already submitted both letters, and plans to move forward with a proposed Saracen Casino Resort in connection with the Quapaw Nation. Pope County voters approved a measure on Nov. 6 that requires city of cials to obtain approval from voters for any casino proposal. In December, Gulfside Casino Partnership announced plans for a $254 million, 600-room casino hotel for Pope County.
TENNESSEE
The Tennessee Attorney General has issued an opinion stating that sports betting is a game of skill rather than a game of chance, opening the door for the Tennessee legislature to legalize sports betting. There are currently bills proposed in both houses of the Tennessee legislature, but Governor-elect Bill Lee has publicly opposed legalized sports betting.
ARK
ALA GA
LA
LOUISIANA
On Nov. 6, 2018, 47 out of 64 parishes voted yes on a Louisiana ballot initiative to allow daily fantasy sports to operate in the parish. There was legislation introduced in 2018 to allow sports betting in Louisiana, but it died in committee before the U.S. Supreme Court struck down PASPA. The bill’s sponsor has committed to introduce sports betting legislation in 2019, and he believes that the signi cant support on the November ballot initiative should be indicative of the state’s position on potential gaming expansion.
FLORIDA
In the November elections, Florida voters voted 71 percent in favor of Amendment 3, which allocated to state voters the exclusive right to permit casino expansions, as well as Amendment 13, which prohibits dog racing in Florida by the year 2020. Amendment 3 speci cally refers to “any of the types of games typically found in casinos and that are within the de nition of Class III gaming in the Federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act,” neither of which include sports betting. Thus, it appears that while the voters of Florida have reserved the right to authorize additional casino authorization, the legislature can still authorize sports betting in Florida should they choose to do so.
GEORGIA
Currently, there is no standing or proposed legislation in Georgia authorizing gaming. There does appear to be signi cant movement, spearheaded by state Rep. Ron Stephens, towards legalizing gaming in some sort in at least three mega-sites in the state. The anticipated legislation would authorize a ballot initiative to be voted on statewide in 2019.
Jones Walker LLP’s gaming law practice, the largest in the southeastern United States, provides full-spectrum legal counsel to clients on gaming law. They represent all participants in the industry, including casinos, tribes, product manufacturers and suppliers, pari-mutuels, lottery vendors, sweepstakes and charities. They also represent other parties — such as investors, lenders and vendors — that have gaming-related interests. Visit joneswalker.com for more information.
TN
FLA