What Are the Positions of the Gubernatorial Contenders on Gambling in Alabama?

No matter how you feel about Governor Bob Riley and his Task Force to End Illegal Gambling in Alabama in a few short months he will be gone and a new Governor will be chosen by the citizens of Alabama. The primary issue of this campaign is gambling and the candidates have taken stands across the board. The headline n the Mobile Press Register on March 14, 2010 asked "Could Alabama become Vegas?"

In a previous article I talked about how hot this issue is and the potential for dangerous behavior if those hotly involved don't cool their heads. (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2703761/ill_bet_ya_a_dime_gambling_wins_in.html?cat=8) With the courts acting to allow venues to temporarily reopen things have cooled for the time being. Law suit are being filed by the Governor as well as the casino owners. And as the campaign for Governor gets underway each candidate has been asked to clearly state their position on the issue.

The current State Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks, a Democrat and Republican Bill Johnson both believe all types of gambling should be legal in Alabama including card games, sporting events, craps and roulette as well as bingo, slot machines and a lottery. (The lottery issue was voted down in 1999). It has seemed to me for some time that the issue of e-bingo, or electronic bingo, was skirting the real question. Since bingo is legal in Alabama casino owners have converted slot machines to play like bingo machines to make them legal. The question has been whether or not they are. But the question really should have been whether or not Alabamians want slot machines - real ones. And these two candidates are the first to acknowledge that reality. Voting on e-bingo will be a waste of time and money. The gambling issue needs to be solved in its entirety.

Sparks opponent, U.S. Rep Autur Davis of Birmingham has expressed support for a lottery as well as paper and electronic bingo. He has not expressed his opinion on the other forms of gambling. It appears Mr. Davis is waiting to see which way public opinion falls.

While most GOP candidates have expressed opposition to all forms of gambling except traditional bingo and only if it benefits churches and charities Johnson, the former director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, maintains a positive opinion and believes the issues should be out to a vote.

The candidates who favor gambling have stated that their pro position is based on increased revenue from taxing and regulating the casinos and jobs.

Tim James, Robert Bentley, James Potts, and Kay Ivey and Bradley Byrne, all GOP candidates, have expressed their views against gambling in the state but have also agreed that a vote should be on the next ballot.

Only Charles Taylor refused to answer the question of his position when asked reporters.