Electronic bingo gambling interests continue to inundate the state, surfacing in a different town or county almost weekly with high-priced deals and promises.
But when Covington County Baptists felt the gambling breeze blow into their Wiregrass county, they didn’t wait around to see what would be debated, especially after witnessing the push for gambling at the proposed Country Crossing development in nearby Dothan. Baptists in Andalusia and surrounding towns took quick action and are making a difference because of it.
“It’s a growing concern in Covington County,” said Fred Karthaus, pastor of First Baptist Church, Andalusia, in Covington Baptist Association.
Larry Cummings, director of missions for Covington Association, agreed. “We were already concerned about the huge ad campaign with Sweet Home Alabama,” he said. “What our pastors want to do is make sure the people are well informed. We want to be proactive in expressing our opposition to gambling in any form.”
Representatives from the association planned to present a resolution against gambling to the county commission during the May 5 commission meeting.
Karthaus, who organized an April 29 informational meeting at First, Andalusia, brought in Sonny Reagan, deputy legal adviser for Gov. Bob Riley. He explained the role and current findings of the Governor’s Task Force on Illegal Gambling to the more than 160 people attending the event.
“I was pleased with the turnout on such short notice,” Karthaus said. “We just found out that the Covington County Commission asked the state Legislature to rescind an act (enabling act 93-866) and pass House Bill (HB) 821, which will open the possibilities for electronic bingo for Covington County.”
Covington County commissioners confirmed in the Andalusia Star-News that the move was related to the growing interest in electronic bingo.
“It’s about protecting Covington County from the riff raff,” said Commission Chairman Lynn Sasser in the Star-News. Currently, the Covington County sheriff provides permits for bingo and the commission regulates it.
The requested legislation was to “shift that authority from the sheriff to the county commission,” said Jeff Woodard, chief of staff for House Speaker Seth Hammett, D-Andalusia, who introduced HB 821. Sen. Jimmy Holley, R-Elba, introduced the Senate version of the bill.
While the legislation never made it out of committee, the fact that it was introduced causes concern to citizens. Some wonder why the commission attempted to take the authority to issue permits away from the sheriff, a procedure that has been used since the constitutional amendment allowing for traditional charity card bingo in the county was ratified in 1995.
Rumors of a resort hotel-casino in Florala and large sums of money for the county exist.
One county commissioner confirmed with the Star-News that at least three gambling industry representatives had approached county officials about operating electronic bingo gambling in the county.
Greg Gambril, district attorney for Covington County, said, “We’ve always taken a very strong stand against gambling in any form.”
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