Alabama Senate Passes Bingo Bill

According the Mobile Press Register, the Alabama Senate approved legislation on Tuesday that would permit electronic bingo to operate across the state. The passage of this legislation means that Alabama voters will have a chance to vote on e-bingo in the November elections.

As Mobile Mayor Sam Jones struggles with a budget shortfall which will require 10% cuts across the board in Mobile - including salaries for police and fireman - John Tyson the DA of Mobile and the head of the Governor's Task force on Illegal Gambling - continues to support the prohibition of gambling in the state despite the millions of dollars of revenue it would generate. The bill as it was passed would assure counties of a 5% cut of the 25% tax it would place on gambling revenues.

With a vote of 21-13 the senate acknowledged that Alabamians have the right to decide if they want gambling to be one of the solutions to the current financial crisis facing so many who cannot find jobs, pay their mortgages, are experiencing pay cuts, are seeing their schools lose teachers every year and watch millions of Alabama dollars going to Mississippi gambling and Florida lotteries.

In his column today in the Press Register George Talbot discussed an interview he had with Wayne Flynt, a retire professor from Auburn University and a man Mr. Talbot identified as the "conscious of Alabama." Mr. Flynt expressed his opinion regarding gambling in Alabama. He said it has roots in the civil war. According to Mr. Flynt, gambling in Alabama has always existed, as far back as antebellum times, when gambling provided funds for public schools and other public projects. Southerners were stunned when they lost the civil war, believing that God was on their side. When they lost they asked "Why God? What did we do to anger you?" and they came up with gambling, alcohol and prostitution. That became the seed for the development of the modern Alabama Baptist religion which is practiced by 2/3 of Alabama's church going population. Flynt, a Baptist himself, is not sure of his position on gambling and acknowledged that there are things called 'necessary evils' and gambling may be one of those choices people have to make to solve a serious statewide problem. The current Governor of Alabama, Bob Riley, is also a member of the Southern Baptist Church.

Provisions of the senate bingo bill -

• Voters will go to the polls in November to vote on a referendum to allow bingo casinos in the state.

• A minimum 25% tax on bingo revenue with 5% going to counties

• Establish a 5 member commission to include the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, speaker of the house, and chief justice.

• Leave the details of how many casinos can exist to legislators

• Calls for the Alabama legislature to meet in an 'extraordinary' session in January to debate issues related to gambling.

• Existing casinos could remain open until the issues are decided by public vote.

No matter which way the vote goes gambling will continue to exist in Alabama. The Poarch Creek Indians run several venues which are federally regulated and will not be affected by any state vote.