There has been no progress on House Bill 1879, which sought to permit a casino within 6,000 feet of the Mississippi State Capitol. Trey Lamar (R-Senatobia), the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, moved to postpone the bill, thereby ending it. The result was confirmed by a voice vote, which stopped the proposal from proceeding.
Supporters Remain Determined
Despite the setback, Rep. Chris Bell (D-Jackson), who sponsored the bill, remains committed to bringing the proposal back in the next legislative session. Advocates believe a casino in Jackson could boost the local economy, attract tourism, and generate new business.
Chairman Lamar acknowledged the bill’s progress but admitted it lacked enough support to pass. He pointed out that while it had previously failed in committee, it had gained traction in 2025. “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,” Lamar said.
Casinos are only allowed on the Mississippi River, the Gulf Coast, and Native American lands under current Mississippi legislation. The proposed law mandated that operators of Jackson casinos maintain an active gaming license and invest a minimum of $500 million. It also contained clauses that would reimburse Vicksburg casinos in the event that a new gambling establishment caused them to lose business.
The bill’s rejection demonstrates the continuous conflict between Jackson lawmakers who support economic expansion and those who want to preserve current casino earnings. Those opposed, particularly those from districts with existing casinos, were concerned that a new casino in Jackson would negatively impact their local economy.
“Areas like Vicksburg cannot afford to have their markets destroyed by having a casino put in Jackson,” said House Minority Leader Robert Johnson.
This ruling coincides with larger discussions in Mississippi about the gaming business. A plan to increase land-based casino taxes from 12% to 16% was just passed by the House Ways and Means Committee in order to make up for the Senate’s inability to authorize online gambling.
Supporters intend to reintroduce the Jackson casino project during subsequent legislative sessions, notwithstanding its current standstill. Mississippi’s gaming environment is constantly changing as a result of ongoing conversations over online sports betting and iGaming.
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