Mississippi Casinos Could Go Smoke-Free, Jackson Mayor Expresses Support for Casino

Posted on: January 16, 2025, 12:26h. 

Last updated on: January 16, 2025, 02:01h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

Most casinos in Mississippi still allow indoor tobacco use, but legislation introduced in the Jackson capital seeks to end the smoking allowance.

Mississippi casino smoking Jackson
A gambler smokes a cigarette while playing a traditional reel slot machine. Legislation in Mississippi would force the state’s many casinos and riverboats to prohibit indoor tobacco use. (Image: New York Times)

Of the 27 states that are home to commercial casinos, 17 permit tobacco smoking. Mississippi is among the smoking states, but state Rep. Bryant Clark (D-Holmes County) is hoping to extinguish cigarettes and cigars from commercial riverboat and brick-and-mortar casinos with his House Bill 361.

The proposed statute, which has been directed to the House Public Health and Human Services Committee, would create the Mississippi Smoke-Free Air Act of 2025. Numerous states have statewide bans on the use of tobacco products inside most workplaces and public buildings. Mississippi isn’t one of them, though 162 localities have adopted local smoke-free ordinances.

There is indisputable evidence that implementing 100% smoke-free environments is the only effective way to protect the population from the harmful effects of exposure to secondhand smoke,” Clark said.

The Mississippi Smoke-Free Air Act would ban smoking in all enclosed public places, including “bingo facilities” and “gaming facilities.” As drafted, the statute would also prohibit smoking within 20 feet of all entrances and operable windows.

Smoking Prevalence 

Mississippi has six commercial land-based casinos, 20 riverboats, and three tribal casinos. The Island View Casino Resort’s Beach View Casino in Biloxi and Magnolia Bluffs Casino in Natchez are the only smoke-free commercial casinos.

Since tribal casinos are on sovereign land they wouldn’t have to comply with the smoke ban, though the three Indian casinos are already smoke-free.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians eliminated indoor smoking from its three casino properties — the Bok Homa Casino in Heidelberg, and Golden Moon Hotel & Casino, and Silver Star in Philadelphia. 

The remaining commercial gaming facilities allow smoking anywhere on the casino floors.

Implementing a statewide tobacco ban has faced long odds in the past, as public smoking rates in Mississippi remain higher than the nationwide average. The Mississippi State Department of Health says about 20% of the state’s adult population regularly smokes tobacco. That’s about 8% higher than the national rate.

However, like much of the country, Mississippi’s smoking rate has been on a decline. In 2011, 26% of Mississippi adults said they were smokers.

Jackson Casino 

The mayor of Jackson, Miss. is hinting that he might get behind an effort to bring a commercial casino and resort to the Mississippi capital city.

Chokwe Antar Lumumba has served as the mayor of Jackson since July 2017. An attorney and activist who is the son of the late Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba, Antar is the eighth consecutive African-American to hold the mayorship. Democrats have held the mayor’s office for decades, but despite efforts to revitalize the state’s most populated city that’s home to about 154K residents, Jackson continues its search for an economic resurgence.

This week, Lumumba revealed that he could support a legislative drive to put a casino in the capital metro.

I’m not against the idea,” Lumumba told the Clarion Ledger. “I just need more information to make an informed decision.”

The Mississippi Legislature convened for its 2025 session on January 7.  As Casino.org reported in December, legislation to authorize slot machines, table games, and sports betting in Jackson is expected, though more than a week into the legislative session, no measure has been filed.

Last year, a bill to provide state aid to attract a gaming development to Jackson stalled in a House committee.