Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant has nominated three new members to the Mississippi Gaming Commission. Bryant nominated Thomas Gresham of Indianola to replace Gaming Commission Chairman Nolen Canon from Tunica County whose term will expire September 30, 2016. Gresham is in the petroleum and convenience store business. Hi late father, Bill Gresham, previously served as commission chairman. Gresham’s term will end September 30, 2019.
Bryant also named Jerry Lester Griffith and Alben “Al” Hopkins Sr., both of Gulfport, to fill openings due to the recent resignations of John Hairston of Gulfport and Wally Carter of Ocean Springs, who both resigned for business reasons. Griffith is retired from the Internal Revenue Service; his term will expire September 30, 2016. Hopkins is a long-time Mississippi attorney who served on the Harrison County Tourism Commission for 12 years; his term will expire September 30, 2017. “I realize the significance of the gaming industry to the state,” Hopkins said.
Both nominations are subject to confirmation by the state Senate.
A recently released study by the American Gaming Association showed Mississippi’s casino industry has an economic impact of $4 billion annually, support 25,000 direct jobs and generates $944 million in federal, state and local taxes each year.
