The new Mississippi Lottery collected more than $500,000 in the sale of scratch-off tickets its first 12 hours after opening at 5 a.m., November 25, said Governor Phil Bryant. Up to $80 million of net proceeds from lottery ticket sales will go to the State Highway Fund until June 30, 2028. The money will be used to repair, renovate and maintain highways and bridges. Any funds generated above $80 million will go toward public education. Bryant tweeted “play responsibly” as lottery sales began.
Players may purchase four different scratch-off tickets: 3 Times Lucky cost $1 and offer a top prize of $3,333; Happy Holidays, Y’all! costs $2 with a top prize of $15,000; Triple 7 costs $2 with a top prize of $20,000; and the $100,000 Jackpot costs $5. The Mississippi Lottery Corporation announced more games will be offered in the next few weeks. Powerball and Mega Millions tickets will be available starting January 30, 2020.
MLC President Tom Shaheen said the lottery is expected to produce $125 million in total sales over the first seven months. “Mississippians will no longer have to cross into neighboring states to participate in these drawing-style games. They will soon have the opportunity for a chance to play big jackpot games four times per week, as well as many secondary prizes.”
Lottery tickets are sold at more than 1,200 licensed retailers throughout the state. Shaheen said MLC will hold retailer training workshops. “Ensuring quality training for retailers is key to the success of the lottery and the retailers,” he said.
Mississippi lawmakers passed the Alyce G. Clarke Mississippi Lottery Law in 2018, creating the Mississippi Lottery Corporation, in response to the closure of hundreds of unsafe bridges. State Rep. Alyce Clarke worked for years to convince her colleagues to create a state lottery. She said, “There are some people for some reason who say they are Christians and they don’t believe in the lottery but the thing about that, that really got to me was when you get to having the Powerball and any of the others where you’re going to get to having the big money, if you go to your neighboring states, Louisiana, Tennessee or anywhere across the bridge most of the cars over there guess what tags they have on them, Mississippi.” Clarke bought the ceremonial first ticket at a convenience store in south Jackson.
Mississippi lottery players must be 21 years old to purchase tickets. Unlike other states, Mississippi allows players to use credit or debit cards as well as cash. The state law also allows winners to remain anonymous. Players can use the free lotteryplaces.com app to locate ticket outlets. It’s the only app available that can find lottery retailers in every state and jurisdiction throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom and Caribbean.
Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah are the only states without lotteries.
Also in Mississippi, rock band KISS members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, part owners of Rock & Brews, want to expand the brand to the former Margaritaville casino site in Biloxi. The company currently operates 21 properties. RAM Group Managing Partner said, “They like the hospitality we have, they call it the southern charm, but also they feel the connection we have with other casinos, and this will provide another brand for the casinos.”
Moore said the owners will invest $200 million at the Margaritaville location, empty for five years. The property will feature a 3,000 seat concert venue, a world tour food hall and 300-room hotel. “They will have rock legend halls and rock legend walls. When people come in here, they’re going to feel just a different audio experience,” Moore said.
If the Biloxi Planning Commission and State Gaming Commission approve the project, construction could start in spring 2020, Moore said. “There’s just a potential for making that part of Biloxi come back to life. Mayor Andres FoFo Gilich has led an effort to build boardwalks, and we hope they’ll wrap a boardwalk all the way to our property back there,” Moore said.
