Gambling battles at the Alabama Statehouse are heating up, and for several weeks now, TV stations around the state have been running commercials asking Alabamians to support and oppose slot machines being labeled electronic bingo.
Before the legislative session began, Greene County entities launched commercials seeking support for Greenetrack’s slot machine gambling operation. Greenetrack currently owes the state $72 million in back taxes, and House Bill (HB) 154 proposes tax exemption for gambling facilities like Greenetrack.
The Enterprise-based Sweet Home Alabama Coalition chimed in running TV commercials questioning Gov. Bob Riley’s motives in shutting down illegal slot machine operations across the state.
Last year, Country Crossing developer Ronnie Gilley confirmed he is a part of the coalition, which staged a statewide media and marketing campaign to promote a “big bingo” bill expanding and legalizing gambling in Alabama.
The big bill being promoted this year would call for a constitutional amendment to be voted on by Alabamians in November. The amendment would legalize slot machines in 10 locations across the state with the guidelines set by bill sponsors Sen. Roger Bedford (Senate Bill 380) and Reps. Marcel Black and John Knight (HB 507).
Now an anti-gambling group is facing off against the pro-gambling forces and defending Riley.
Citizens for a Better Alabama (CBA) began airing TV and radio ads across the state “in response to the blatant misinformation that casino bosses have put out over the airwaves in previous weeks.”
“The ads that began running [Jan. 28] show that casino bosses cannot hide behind attacks and misinformation while they try to pass one of the most corrupt pieces of legislation in Alabama history,” said CBA President Eric Johnston in a press release.
“We are proud to stand with our governor to refute the malicious propaganda that keeps originating from casino interests across Alabama.” (TAB)
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