About the Documentary
The history of gambling in Mississippi began long before it became legal in 1992. The actual start goes back hundreds of years to native tribes that populated the state. As the Mississippi River became important for trade, illegal gambling flourished. Then, as now, the idea was to keep it on the boats and off the land.
But by the late 1980s, economic needs of the state had trumped moral objections, and other states were striking it rich with gaming. Mississippi's then governor, Ray Mabus, and the state legislature wanted in on the action.
Riverboats pumped millions of dollars into local economies, revitalizing places like Vicksburg and Natchez. And Tunica, Philadelphia and Biloxi have all reaped the economic benefits of casinos, especially in the first decade after legislation.
Gambling in Mississippi became a billion-dollar industry, and returned hundreds of millions of dollars to the state's general fund in tax revenue. The state gets 8 percent of every dollar, while casino localities get four percent.
When Katrina devastated the state and its economy in 2005, casinos helped get Mississippi back on its feet. But the thrill of winning big can also lead to downfall. Mississippi has one of the highest problem gambling rates (nearly 25,000) in the country.
In 2014, the Mississippi legislature created a task force to study the feasibility of both online gambling and sports betting. It's yet another challenge for casino gaming in the state and raises further questions as to whether Mississippi casinos are truly worth the gamble.
"It has not turned the town into a hell hole, and it has not turned the town into a place where the streets are paved with gold."
– Charlie Mitchell, former editor of The Vicksburg Post on casinos