MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Ways and Means

By: Representative Middleton

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 75-76-155, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT PERSONS WHO ARE EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AND MARRIED MAY BE GAMING EMPLOYEES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 75-76-155, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

75-76-155. (1) Except as otherwise provided herein, a person under the age of twenty-one (21) years shall not:

(a) Play, be allowed to play, place wagers, or collect winnings, whether personally or through an agent, from any gaming authorized under this chapter.

(b) Be employed as a gaming employee, except that a person who is eighteen (18) years of age or older and married may be a gaming employee.

(2) Any licensee, employee, dealer or other person who violates or permits the violation of any of the provisions of this section, and any person under twenty-one (21) years of age who violates any of the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisoned in the county jail not more than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(3) In any prosecution or other proceeding for the violation of any of the provisions of this section, it is no excuse for the licensee, employee, dealer or other person to plead that he believed the person to be twenty-one (21) years old or over.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.