Video poker campaigns continue around the Legislature as lawmakers must once again decide gambling’s fate in Alabama.
Bills have been introduced to allow video poker machines at three of the state’s four dog tracks in Greene, Jefferson and Macon counties. While a bill has not been introduced calling for video poker at the Mobile County dog track, legislation allowing it is expected to surface if any of the other bills pass.
Still, “slot machine” gambling has failed to win approval for three years running. And after last year’s astounding defeat of a state-sponsored lottery, gambling foes question why proponents even bothered trying again.
“Apparently some legislators did not get the message this past Oct. 12,” said Dan Ireland, executive director of Alabama Citizens Action Program. “I do not know what part of ‘no’ to gambling they did not understand.”
Even Gov. Don Siegelman, who campaigned fervently for the lottery, opposes video poker.
“I cannot imagine any circumstance where I would be supportive of video poker or any kind of casino-related activity,” Siegelman told The Birmingham News following the annual Legislative Prayer Luncheon, sponsored by the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, Feb. 2.
Lt. Gov. Steve Windom, a member of First Baptist Church, Tillman’s Corner, near Mobile, also opposes video poker. He is working with the Christian Coalition and other pro-family organizations in efforts to defeat the legislation.
The bills legalizing video poker at the dog tracks were presented as local legislation.
Historically, local legislation is passed without question as a courtesy for the legislators of that particular district.
“They are trying to pass this as local legislation, but it really affects the entire state,” Ireland said. “It is more than just local legislation, because they will depend on outsiders to come to it.”
Ireland encourages all citizens to contact their senator and House member about the issue.
“Get a commitment from them to work for the defeat of these bills,” Ireland said. “A ‘no’ vote is needed on any and every effort to pass one of these bills.
“There are a lot of problems with the legislation,” Ireland said. Not only does it give the licensee the privilege of a variety of machines, but it also allows him or her to have as many machines as he or she can cram into the building, he noted.
“The bill also has a provision for linkage of these machines,” he said. “Does that linkage mean from machine to machine on the premise or to other tracks or to other states?” he asked, noting he has not received an answer yet.
Also, Ireland questions whether the bill restricts the tracks to machines. “Would it allow table games also?” he asked. “It is a matter of interpretation, and there are some clouded questions.”
At press time the Senate bills allowing for video poker at the tracks in Macon and Greene counties were on the Senate calendar and could be debated by the full Senate as early as Feb. 22.
Sen. Bill Armistead, R-Columbiana, who case the sole dissenting vote of video poker in committee, said, “I believe (the bills) will meet strong opposition (in the full Senate).”
Armistead pointed out the push for video poker subsided during the Feb. 15 and 17 sessions.
The House bills legalizing video poker at the dog tracks remain in committee.
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