Casino courses: Sure thing or game of chance?

By By Buddy Bynum / editor
Jan. 18, 2004
When legal Mississippi casinos first opened for business in 1992, they did so under governing statutes with built-in limitations. I suppose one could argue that a "statute" really is just a "limitation" governing any behavior.
Mississippi lawmakers were extremely cautious when they introduced a controversial experiment in casino gambling a more polite word is gaming as a new entertainment option in a state best known for deep religious convictions and conservative beliefs.
In a way, they challenged these fundamental beliefs by allowing huge out-of-state corporations to establish games of chance, some might say skill, on garishly-decorated, themed barges that could only be positioned in navigable waterways.
This was a key limitation, making the move more agreeable to inlander legislators who, maybe subconsciously, thought of the Mississippi Coast and certain ports of call along the Mississippi River as dins of vice. But if they're doing it anyway, the reasoning was, why not tax the practice and create a whole new pot of money for the Legislature to control.
Wink, nod
The casino bill was floated with a wink and a nod. None of Mississippi's casino barges could easily float to safer waters in case of a big hurricane or other disaster. But qualifying counties did have a vote on whether to invite casinos in. Jackson County has steadfastly said no.
Casinos and the games and entertainment options they offered have been, for the most part, huge success stories. The revenues they attracted revitalized the Coast and some areas of the Delta. Good-paying jobs were created for workers who, in turn, bought houses and cars and refrigerators and furniture, and paid more personal income taxes.
Casino taxes go into the state's general fund, where the money is doled out for teacher pay raises and health care for poor children, among other items. A piece of the pie also goes to cities where casinos are located.
The money churns through the economy and tax revenues generated by casinos today are pretty much built in to state and qualifying local budgets.
For all of the early moral implications conjured up by the act of gambling, a dozen years of experience show that people do gamble, which produces a lot of money. Sometimes, they even win; most of the time, the house wins. But the tantalizing possibility of winning big keeps people coming.
People also stay at land-based casino hotels, attend concerts with top acts that otherwise wouldn't send their shadows to Mississippi, eat at casino restaurants, and buy newspapers, clothing and sundries at casino gift shops.
What to teach
So, given this multibillion-dollar business, is it time now to take the next step and allow the state's educational institutions to teach casino management and related courses? This is the state College Board's dilemma as it considers whether to approve such a proposal.
College Board members are expected to decide next month whether to endorse such programs at the University of Southern Mississippi and Alcorn State University.
If approved, Southern Miss would offer a bachelor of science in business administration degree in tourism with an emphasis in casino and resort management. Alcorn State would offer a bachelor of science degree in business administration with a major in hospitality and gaming management.
Mississippi Valley State, Delta State, Mississippi State and the University of Mississippi are all seeking to modify existing programs to introduce casino-related courses.
New Orleans-based Tulane University announced in November it would offer a casino resort management program at its Edgewater Mall campus is Biloxi potential competition for any programs Mississippi universities may choose to offer.
Mississippi is further limited by a 1997 attorney general's opinion saying that a public school or college cannot teach or train people to work in a position specific to the gaming industry, such as blackjack dealer, slot machine mechanic, casino manager or supervisor, or a manufacturer or repairer of equipment. In our state, there would have to be a broader focus on resort and tourism management, unless the law is changed.
If we're serious about helping business grow and if we as a state have really embraced casinos, there is every reason for the College Board to approve casino management courses. If such jobs are to be had, Mississippi students should be first in line for them.
Truly embracing an opportunity means eliminating all of the barriers the limitations on any legitimate business achieving its highest level of success.