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Chickasaw: Undeterred by warnings from Mobile County District Attorney John Tyson and Gov. Bob Riley, Chickasaw city officials continue their effort to bring slot machines to their city.
Though an ordinance allowing for slot machines (being labeled electronic bingo gambling) in Chickasaw passed 4–1 in July 2009, council members have yet to approve any contracts. But according to a December Mobile Press-Register article, Mayor Byron Pittman said one slot machine operator wants at least 200 machines in his facility. This operator is currently in negotiations with the city to open a facility.
In mid-January, city councilman Adam Bourne told the Mobile TV station WALA, “I’ve determined that as long as [electronic bingo] follows a specific pattern, … a six-prong test the Supreme Court came up with, (then) it’s perfectly legal.”
Bourne was referring to a formula the Alabama Supreme Court used in November 2009 to determine the legality of what has been labeled electronic bingo gambling.
But Tyson said he has yet to see machines that pass the Supreme Court’s test.
“Electronic bingo, as I understand it, is illegal under Alabama law. In my view, (it) is nothing other than slot machines with the decal changed on it,” he told The Alabama Baptist.
“There was never a question about what was and wasn’t gambling until Troy King became attorney general,” Tyson added.
Henry Phillips, a member of First Baptist Church, Chickasaw, is one of two council members opposed to slot machines coming to the city.
“I’m against everything they’re doing with bingo in Chickasaw,” he said. “I’ve been on the council for 16 years, and I’ve never seen it disrupted like it is now.”
Councilman Mickey Day, also a member of First, Chickasaw, said he opposes slot machines because he does not want to see the city’s character changed.
“Many people and many pastors say that you cannot legislate morality, and that is about the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard because every law on the books is legislating morality,” he said. “If we allow [slot machines], are we not legislating immorality?”
Bessemer: A court date to determine the legality of slot machines (being labeled electronic bingo) and gambling operations in Bessemer Cut-off had not been set by press time. Although Circuit Court Judge Eugene Verin said in November 2009 he would hold a hearing in the case in January, some believe it may be as late as April before the judge brings the issue back to his court.
The delay has prolonged a heated disagreement between Bessemer Mayor Edward E. May who believes the machines are illegal and four city council members who insist on establishing an entertainment district in the city.
In a previous city council meeting, Council Members Louise Alexander, Dorothy Davidson, President Pro-Tem Jesse Matthews and President Earl Cochran passed a resolution amending the city’s paper bingo ordinance virtually changing it to an “electronic bingo” gambling ordinance.
At press time, May planned to veto the resolution at the next council meeting.
Florala: Last year, Covington County District Attorney Gregory Gambril announced throughout his jurisdiction that anyone bringing “illegal slot machines disguised as bingo machines” into the county would be prosecuted.
This was enough to stop county commissioners from developing “electronic bingo” rules last year, but it did not stop Florala’s City Council from recently passing an ordinance allowing the games.
According to Andalusia Star-News, city leaders planned to receive nearly $700,000 per year in “bingo taxes,” permit fees and “police taxes” the first two years and more after that. Similar to Houston County’s Country Crossing entertainment complex less than 70 miles away, any organization operating “bingo games” would be required to include at least one restaurant and deli and “be a part of a development that includes a hotel with at least 40 rooms.”
Although Attorney General Troy King asked district attorneys in Alabama counties allowing charity bingo to determine how to enforce the Alabama Supreme Court’s recent ruling on traditional bingo, King wrote a personal letter to Florala’s city attorney after the city council passed their ordinance. King said the county’s bingo amendment allows only paper games.
“Regardless of whether or not the County Commission has chosen to regulate bingo, there is no authority in Amendment 565 that empowers a city or municipality in Covington County to pass rules and regulations allowing for electronic bingo,” King wrote.
King also responded to Gadsden in this same manner when city officials planned to bring “bingo machines” into Etowah County. Gadsden is less than 60 miles from the Birmingham Race Course, whose owner Milton McGregor continues to seek ways to bring slot machines into his facility.
Although Gambril says the law is clear, he still expects some business or organization to attempt to bring the slot machines into Covington County.
“I think the money figures being thrown around are going to be too much of a temptation to most folks,” he said.
Legislature: When it comes to whether to legalize or ban slot machines in Alabama, lawmakers seem to be torn.
According to a recent survery conducted by The Associated Press, less than half of Alabama legislators would support a constitutional amendment to legalize slot machines (being labeled electronic bingo). Less than half also indicated they would be willing to ban it.
Two questions were sent to Alabama legislators.
1. A constitutional amendment has been proposed that would make sure electronic bingo is legal and levy taxes on it. What is your view of the legislation?
HOUSE
Support — 41 percent
Oppose — 35 percent
Undecided — 24 percent
SENATE
Support — 41 percent
Oppose — 45 percent
Undecided — 14 percent
2. A constitutional amendment has been proposed that would ban electronic bingo in Alabama. What is your view of the legislation?
HOUSE
Support — 37 percent
Oppose — 31 percent
Undecided — 32 percent
SENATE
Support — 45 percent
Oppose — 28 percent
Undecided — 28 percent
The survey was mailed to all 104 House members and 35 senators in December. Responding were 71 percent of House members and 83 percent of senators.
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