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Alabama Gambling Demand at Fever Pitch Despite Riley
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA --
Governor Bob Riley's campaign over the last year to eradicate minor, gray-area spots of gambling around the state may be backfiring. Efforts to close a few electronic bingo halls have led to expanding Indian casinos, rebellious municipalities, and legislative measures which may greatly increase legal gaming in the state.
Representative Marcel Black has authored a bill that would prevent Riley's special gambling police group from closing any more venues which offer the same games available at Indian casinos. Black is also considering proposing a state constitutional amendment, which would establish a state gaming board and license certain locations to operate electronic gambling.
"When people go into a facility run by an Alabama operator and when they go into an Indian facility, there's no difference, it's all gambling," says Black. "This needs to be done to keep it fair."
Meanwhile, towns like Florala are attempting to bypass Riley and set up their own gambling laws. Florala's city council voted this week to set regulations for a bingo facility, to be located near the border between Alabama and Florida.
The state attorney general has issued a letter to Florala saying electronic gaming is illegal throughout the state, but city officials say the letter is strictly for information purposes only, and plan to continue creating a gaming venue.
Riley has kept gambling so tightly controlled that Alabama is now like the fat man wearing clothes many sizes too small. Spectators are seeing the splitting of the seams, as gaming prepares to explode all over the state, despite the pleas of religious fundamentalists.
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