MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2002 Regular Session
To: Ways and Means
By: Representative Dedeaux
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 97-33-1 AND 97-33-29, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THE APPLICATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI GAMING CONTROL ACT AND THE CHARITABLE BINGO LAW; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 97-33-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
97-33-1. If any person shall encourage, promote or play at any game, play or amusement, other than a fight or fighting match between dogs, for money or other valuable thing, or shall wager or bet, promote or encourage the wagering or betting of any money or other valuable things, upon any game, play, amusement, cockfight, Indian ball play, or duel, other than a fight or fighting match between dogs, or upon the result of any election, event or contingency whatever, upon conviction thereof, he shall be fined in a sum not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00); and, unless such fine and costs be immediately paid, shall be imprisoned for any period not more than ninety (90) days. However, this section shall not apply to betting, gaming or wagering:
(a) On a cruise vessel as defined in Section 27-109-1 whenever such vessel is in the waters within the State of Mississippi, which lie adjacent to the State of Mississippi south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, and in which the registered voters of the county in which the port is located have not voted to prohibit such betting, gaming or wagering on cruise vessels as provided in Section 19-3-79;
(b) On a vessel as defined in Section 27-109-1 whenever such vessel is on the Mississippi River or navigable waters within any county bordering on the Mississippi River, and in which the registered voters of the county in which the port is located have not voted to prohibit such betting, gaming or wagering on vessels as provided in Section 19-3-79; or
(c) That is legal under the laws of the State of Mississippi and subject to regulation under the Mississippi Gaming Control Act or the Charitable Bingo Law.
SECTION 2. Section 97-33-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
97-33-29. All laws made or to be made for the regulation of gambling or gaming, are remedial and not penal statutes, and shall be so construed by the courts.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2002.