The Mississippi Gaming Commission held its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, October 20, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. in the Jackson office of the Mississippi Gaming Commission.  Executive Director Allen Godfrey, Chairman Al Hopkins, and Commissioners Jerry Griffith and Tom Gresham were in attendance.  The following matters were considered:

LICENSING

The Mississippi Gaming Commission approved licenses for the following:

• PDS Gaming Corporation – Mississippi, as a gaming operator

• PDS Special Purpose I – Mississippi, LLC, as a gaming operator

• PDS Special Purpose II – Mississippi, LLC, as a gaming operator

• PDS Special Purpose II – Mississippi, LLC, as a gaming operator

FINDINGS OF SUITABILITY

The Mississippi Gaming Commission approved findings of suitability for the following persons and entities:

• Andy H. Chien, Chief Financial Officer and James C. Stewart, Chief Executive Officer (MGM Growth Properties, LLC) (Beau Rivage Resorts, LLC d/b/a Beau Rivage and MGM Resorts Mississippi, Inc. d/b/a Gold Strike Casino Resort)

• Michael T. Cowhig, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Steven J. Strobel, Chairman of Audit Committee of Newell Brands, Inc.  (The United States Playing Card Company)

• Michael H. Jahrmarkt, Equity Owner (NL PDS LLC), Robert B. Woods, Equity Owner (NL PDS LLC) and Alexander P.H. Wyrough, Equity Owner (NL PDS LLC), PDS Gaming Corporation – Mississippi; PDS Special Purpose I – Mississippi, LLC; PDS Special Purpose II – Mississippi LLC; and PDS Special Purpose II – Mississippi, LLC)

OTHER APPROVALS

The Mississippi Gaming Commission approved the following:

• Bally Gaming, Inc. and DEQ Systems Corp. 

  • Registration of Scientific Games Corporation as a Publicly Traded Corporation of DEQ Systems Corp.

  • Acquisition of Control of DEQ Systems Corp.

  • FOS of SG Canada Acquisitions, Inc. to Merge with and into DEQ Systems Corp.

  • Registration of Bally Gaming, Inc. as a Holding Company of DEQ Systems Corp.

  • De-Registration of DEQ Systems Corp. as a Publicly Traded Corporation

  • De-Registration of Bally Gaming, Inc. as a Holding Company of DEQ Systems Corp.

• PDS Gaming Corporation – Mississippi; PDS Special Purpose I – Mississippi, LLC; PDS Special Purpose II – Mississippi, LLC, and PDS Special Purpose III – Mississippi, LLC

  • Registration of PDS Acquisition LP as a Holding Company

  • Registration of PDS Funding LLC as a Holding Company

  • Registration of NL PDS LLC as a Holding Company

  • FOS of NL Acquisition GP LLC as a General Partner of PDS Acquisition LP

  • Transfer of the Equity Interests or Securities of PDS Holding Co., Inc.

  • De-Registration of The Finley Family Trust as a Holding Company

WORK PERMITS

The Commission denied the recommendation of the Executive Director for unanimous approval of a work permit for Heidi C. Pinto.  

The Commission approved the recommendation of the Executive Director to accept the hearing officer’s decision  with respect to the following:

• Melissa J. Miller

• Jennifer Washington

PLAYER DISPUTE

• Joseph Brown vs. New Palace Casino d/b/a Palace Casino Resort  

• The Commission approved the recommendation of the Executive Director to decline to review the decision of the Hearing Examiner.

• Larry Songy vs. Silver Slipper Casino Venture d/b/a Silver Slipper Casino

• The Commission approved the recommendation of the Executive Director to decline to review the decision of the Hearing Examiner.

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE ADOPTION  - PUBLIC NOTICE

Tabled.

PUBLIC COMMENTS 

None.