Although no casinos are planned in Waveland, Mississippi, located in Hancock County and part of the Gulfport-Biloxi metropolitan statistical area, officials recently amended the city charter to remove a ban on them. Mayor David Garcia said, “We’re not misleading anybody. We’re not in any negotiations with any casinos. We just didn’t want it in there. We wanted to remove it as an economic development engine. Whereas, if Waveland is ever approached or given the opportunity to open a discussion with a casino, we’ll be able to open a discussion with them based upon that. Right now the charter would prohibit that discussion from taking place.”
Garcia said previously the charter stated “we could not even talk to a group if they wanted to come to Waveland. Now, at least we can have initial talks if any group would be interested.”
Under state law, both the governor’s office and the attorney general’s office must sign off on the charter change before it can take effect. The law also allows local residents to petition for an election regarding the issue.
