More ‘bingo’ bills filed in Legislature

More ‘bingo’ bills filed in Legislature

With only 10 days left in the legislative session and no budgets passed yet, some pro-gambling lawmakers continue to push legislation to legalize and expand slot machine gambling labeled electronic bingo in Alabama.

According to Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, the gambling bill sponsored by Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, may not be dead as Bedford originally told the media.

“He is telling people he is bringing a substitute after spring break,” Beason said. “When you are talking about hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars, they are not giving up that easily.”

Beason believes Alabamians should be given a “true up or down vote” to “abolish gambling,” so he introduced Senate Bill (SB) 333 calling for this type of vote. However, he does not believe his bill will make it out of the Tourism and Marketing Committee.

“You would get some closure when you vote to make it illegal,” he said. “That’s the only way to put this issue to bed. … What happens when they dream up a new machine? … I see the possibility of that happening again if we don’t do away with it.”

After fighting hard last year for his 44-page Sweet Home Alabama bill only to see it fail, Sen. Quinton Ross, D-Montgomery, is back with another “bingo” bill this year.

While last year’s “bingo” bill proposed widespread gambling at several “points of destination” statewide, SB 515, which Ross filed March 8, proposes a constitutional amendment to “authorize the operation of electronic bingo” statewide and create a gaming commission to regulate and tax gambling operations around the state.

He also wants casino operators to pay up to $1.5 million in annual license fees and 30 percent in state taxes — a 10 percent increase from his previous bill.

Sen. Priscilla Dunn, D-Bessemer, has also filed gambling legislation this year. One bill (SB 477) seeks to repeal Jefferson County’s current bingo amendment and create a new one including “electronic marking machine” gambling. It is unclear how these machines function, but reports indicate they could include the slot machines currently being labeled electronic bingo in the Bessemer Cut-off area.

Dunn’s three other bills would propose constitutional amendments in Fairfield, Midfield and Bessemer, where there has been a proliferation of casinos over the past year.

Several other Jefferson County delegates — Reps. Merika Coleman, D-Birmingham; Earl Hilliard Jr., D-Birmingham; Roderick Scott, D-Fairfield; and Lawrence McAdory, D-Bessemer — sponsored similar bills in the Alabama House.

Although Sen. Paul Sanford, R-Huntsville, said he would draft a bill to place casino licenses up for bid and establish a minimum tax rate of 50 percent, he had not filed his bill by press time.

Sen. Hank Erwin, R-Montevallo, said, “There are rumors of other bills that might be under development, but nothing has been brought forth with the same energy as the previous bill,” he said, referring to Bedford’s failed bill. (TAB)