‘Bingo for bookies’ bill passes Alabama’s Senate, goes to the House

Gambling legislation allowing high stakes bingo at Alabama’s four dog tracks was approved by the state Senate March 18.

With a final vote count of 21–9, the bill now goes to the state House of Representatives where its future is in question.

Touted as “bingo for books” or “bingo for bookies,” according to which side one supports, Senate Bill 381 has lawmakers at odds over whether it would expand gambling in the state.

Bill sponsor Gerald Dial of Lineville claims the bill would allow the dog tracks the same privileges enjoyed by existing Indian gambling establishments in Alabama. The Poarch Indians, Dial said, already have gambling halls in Atmore, We­tumpka and Montgomery, but they fall under federal jurisdiction and are not taxed by the state.

Dial said his bill would raise about $50 million a year for textbooks, technology and other classroom materials.

Dan Ireland, executive director of Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP) said state revenue has grown to the point where next year’s education trust fund budget will provide money for textbooks and other teaching aids without the bingo legislation.

“When the gamblers want to pass a gambling bill, they hide behind education or the elderly. This bill is just a stepping stone to wide-open gambling in Alabama. I see it that way and so do others with whom I’ve talked,” Ireland said.

Ireland praised State Senators Hank Erwin, Jabo Waggoner and Tom Butler for leading the opposition to the gambling bill. Ireland claimed the supporters of gambling were afraid of the opposition swaying votes so they filibustered until they had the necessary 21 votes locked up. “They wanted to monopolize the microphone so the fallacies of that bill could not be made public,” Ireland said.

The bill still faces an uncertain future. “We have strong opposition to the bill in the House,” Ireland said. “I don’t know why (the senators supporting the bill) would want to take a beating for this bill when it is going to be defeated in the House, but I hope all these people supporting the gambling bill get bloodied up when it is defeated.”

As of March 19, the House version of the bill — HB 537, sponsored by Rep. Yvonne Kennedy, D-Mobile — was still in committee.