October 15

In Mississippi, Secretary of State Eric Clark has requested that a group he organized to stop talks regarding inland casinos. He feels that by doing so, he is trying to protect the coast's gambling industry.

Wednesday, members of the committee announced that moving casinos deeper into the state will remain open for discussion when recommendations are to the state Legislature.

Clark stressed that moving casinos inland would avert the state from collecting tidelands leases that generate about $6 million a year for environmental protection issues, parks, and various programs regarding education.

The Chairman of the Mississippi Gaming Commission and a member of the committee, thinks that the real issue is to figure out how to evaluate putting the $6 million a year in tidelands funds against the hundreds of millions in tax revenue that is currently generated by gambling. The earned tax revenue is vital income to the state of Mississippi. Rather than having to choose one or the other, he feels this is the route to take.

Clark also mentioned to the committee that the system that is in place now is what the is what the people of Mississippi voted for, and that amending the rules now would be unreasonable to established casinos.