Video gambling continues to bombard Alabamians. Whether it be the flashing “7-7-7” signs that point to the darkened windows of storefronts transformed into gambling parlors or the consistent attempt to define and legalize the machines inside those parlors, electronic-style gambling is there somewhere.
And if a bill approved by the Alabama House of Representatives Tourism and Travel Committee on April 4 passes the full Legislature and is approved by a vote of the people, then all four racetracks in the state will be able to offer their own forms of video gambling.
Electronic video gambling is already permitted at racetracks in Macon and Greene counties. The proposed legislation calls for a constitutional amendment to be voted on by Alabamians. The amendment would expand video gambling under the label “bingo” to racetracks in Jefferson and Mobile counties.
Rep. Marcel Black, D-Tuscumbia, said he sponsored the legislation — HB 527 — to keep gambling machines out of “every little convenience store at every crossroads. … (The bill) puts (gambling) in an area where it can be … contained.”
But Dan Ireland, executive director of Alabama Citizens Action Program, warned the bill only expands gambling in the state. “Before we know it, we will have full-fledged gambling across Alabama,” he said.
Ireland explained that every year, gambling interests attempt to push the boundaries to legalize more and more gambling in the state.
In urging committee members to defeat the bill, Ireland said, “This is a losing proposition. There has to be a lot of losers before they (the gambling device owners) can pay out the money.”
He also noted the bill would set up “for-profit bingo” at the tracks in Birmingham and Mobile and would leave them with a gambling monopoly.
Jefferson County District Attorney David Barber warned the bill would legalize electronic gambling machines the Alabama Supreme Court recently ruled illegal.
In December 2006, the court deemed electronic gambling machines placed at the Birmingham track by owner Milton McGregor to be illegal and ordered them removed.
Black attempted to dismiss Barber’s concern, saying the Supreme Court ruling will make no difference. He said the ruling dealt with the particular machine, not video gambling in general. “The machines are constantly being tweaked and will come back with a different twist.”
Referring to the bill, Barber said the proposal goes beyond bingo equipment. “They’re describing a slot machine basically,” he told committee members.
Barber also cautioned lawmakers that they would be legalizing gambling on home computers if HB 527 were adopted. He pointed to the section of the bill defining bingo equipment, which “allows players of bingo to compete against other players regardless of their location.”
“The devil is in the definition,” Barber said. “This (bill) would allow me to stay at home and play over the Internet.”
Black, who said he would not sponsor this bill in his own county, touted the tax advantages of his proposal. The proposal calls for 20 percent state tax on profits after winnings are paid out. Proceeds would help defray the state’s Medicaid costs.
Ireland called the Medicaid connection “the cause of the month.” He said every year, gambling proponents hide the expansion efforts they attempt to bring into Alabama behind some worthy cause.
He added that in past years, gambling has been tied to textbooks and nursing homes.
“The Medicaid proposal is just an attempt to deflect attention from the real issue, which is expanding video gambling in Alabama,” Ireland said.
If HB 527 is passed by both the House and Senate, then the bill will appear on the February 2008 presidential primary ballot.
The Kansas Legislature passed a similar bill March 29. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is expected to sign the bill into law. If she does, then citizens of the state will vote in 2008 about adding up to 800 slot machines to The Woodlands racetrack in Kansas City.
For more on video gambling, visit www.thealabamabaptist.org.
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