It was back to the drawing board for pro-gambling legislators March 3 after Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, could not raise enough votes to bring Senate Bill (SB) 380 up for debate. But gambling opponents do not expect the fight to end there.
While several legislators continue talks of introducing new bills to legalize and expand the slot machine gambling referred to as electronic bingo, gambling supporters across the state hope to find a victory through the Alabama court system.
Bedford introduced his bill last month proposing a statewide vote to legalize slot machine casinos at 10 Alabama locations. Some of the bill’s opponents said it would create a monopoly, make casino owners “a law unto themselves” and create a gaming commission with “no real power.” Some gambling supporters even opposed the bill since it would not allow casinos in their municipalities.
After a series of private meetings and negotiations to tweak the bill and make it more palatable to his opponents, Bedford said he changed the tax rate from 25 percent to 27 percent and made stricter requirements for the gaming commission. Still he could not find the 21 votes necessary to bring the bill up for debate.
Gov. Bob Riley called the 18–16 vote “a victory for fairness in law and honesty in government.” A press release from Riley’s office discounted gambling supporters’ claims that the bill would limit, tax and regulate gambling.
“The plan loosens limits on gambling and expands casinos in Alabama, sets a ridiculously low tax rate of 25 percent when other states are in the 45–75 percent range and strips the would-be gaming commission of any true regulatory authority,” the press release stated.
Riley said, “Clearly a lot of senators understand just how crooked this bill is now that they’ve had a chance to review it. This bill isn’t about gambling. It isn’t about letting the people vote. It’s about pure, unadulterated corruption and legalizing a no-bid casino monopoly for a few politically connected gambling bosses. Senators who voted to stop this corrupt bill should be commended for their vote.”
Sen. Hank Erwin, R-Montevallo, who has fought against the proliferation of gambling for years, had asked Christians to pray for the bill’s defeat. After the vote, he announced, “To God be the glory. Thank you my faithful prayer warriors. We defeated electronic bingo today.”
At press time, Bedford told several news organizations he did not plan to bring the bill back up. He referred to “back room deals” struck by Riley and lobbyists to keep his bill from passing.
Yet Todd Stacy, Riley’s press secretary, said the bill failed because people began to realize its corrupt and deceptive nature.
“The fact that they were trying to give away a no-bid casino monopoly for nickels in return was just shameful,” he said. “Everyone who voted to move that bill forward should be ashamed because of how bad it was. … I’m sure the gambling interests are not going to give up because they are desperate.”
Joe Godfrey, executive director of Alabama Citizens Action Program, also believes the fight is not over.
“I expect that they are going to try to bring this bill back up and work on some senators to try to convince them to come over to their side,” he said.
Referring to recent reports of gambling bosses giving $2.2 million to various political action committees, Godfrey added, “There are 12 legislative days left, and there is way too much money involved.”
Eric Johnston, president of Citizens for a Better Alabama, said the gamblers are “desperate” to pass legislation this session.
“They have everything to lose this year,” he said. “Everybody has all their chips on the table. Their hope hinges on getting a bill passed this session because they are not going to win in the courts.”
According to The Associated Press, Ronnie Gilley, developer of Dothan’s Country Crossing gambling facility, said, “My hope is we can get a simplified version and get it back in front of them (the legislators).”
Sen. Paul Sanford, R-Huntsville, did not vote for Bedford’s bill but told reporters he planned to introduce new “bingo” legislation, which would refer to the machines currently used around the state as slot machines, place casino licenses up for bid and establish a minimum tax rate of 50 percent. It was not filed at press time.
Sen. Hank Sanders, D-Selma, filed SB 507 March 4 proposing a constitutional amendment allowing legislators to determine what kind of bingo will be played and where it will be allowed.
“They could then turn around and do a bill like the Sweet Home Alabama bill,” Johnston said. “I think people should be even more wary (now) because they don’t know exactly what’s coming. … They’ve got their strategy, and I think something is definitely coming.”
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