Alabama Governor Kay Ivey recently said she would consider the Poarch Band of Creek Indians’ proposal to expand gaming in the state.
The tribe has proposed a constitutional amendment that would legalize Class III gaming, allow it to build two additional casino, and get exclusive gaming rights in the state in exchange for an estimated $1 billion in revenue after the first year. That figure includes $725 million from license fees and $350 million in annual taxes from new development and revenue share on Class III games at existing sites.
Ivey said, “I’ll certainly consider sitting down and talking with them. But if we’re going to have gambling, first the lottery is going to have to be passed by the legislature and then voted on by the people. So, we’ll see where this goes.”
Poarch Tribal Chair and Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Bryan commented, “We know that everyone in the state of Alabama does not support gaming. But we do know that they have unmet needs when it comes to education, healthcare, infrastructure, transportation. So, we know there are unmet needs from those individuals.”
State Senator Del Marsh said the plan “gives a monopoly to one entity and I just don’t know if the taxpayers would support that.” State Senator Bobby Singleton agreed. “I just think that it would not be wise for the governor to give a monopoly in this state to anyone without first vetting that process. I applaud the Native Americans for their tenacity to do business in this state and to be a good corporate citizen, but that still doesn’t deserve them a complete monopoly in this state,” he said.
In a recent opinion column in the Alabama Political Reporter, investigative reporter Josh Moon singled out state Senator Greg Albritton “for the mess that is Alabama’s current predicament with gambling.”
Moon said Albritton is “the man who single-handedly killed a viable lottery bill last year and also blocked a bill that would have allowed dog tracks in Macon and Green counties to operate electronic bingo machines like the ones at Poarch Band of Creek Indians casino. Essentially, Albritton is the lawmaker who represents a casino owner.”
Regarding the Poarch Band’s latest proposal, Moon wrote, “AL.com printed a story quoting both Governor Kay Ivey and Albritton on a recent plan by the Poarch Creeks that would give them exclusive gaming rights. The story was filled with the typical fluff from lawmakers about listening to all options and going through the proper channels and yada, yada, yada. Same thing as always.
“And then there’s Albritton’s quote: ‘The other issue we have is that we have other gaming going on that claims to be parimutuel or other forms of gaming that courts rule is illegal that goes on and there is a lack of clarity. When we deal with gaming, we have to find a way to answer all of those questions. It’s why we are unable to pass a lottery.’ That is an impressive quote, if you’re judging it by how much BS you can fit into just three short sentences. Almost none of this true.”
Moon said, “Albritton and his bosses at PCI are why the last lottery didn’t pass. PCI didn’t want the lottery proposed because it would have cut into their gaming profits. Albritton did their bidding and blocked it, despite the fact that it cost Alabama citizens roughly $400 million per year.” He added, “Albritton knows full well that parimutuel wagering is not illegal. But by saying so, he is attempting to raise questions about gaming occurring at the Birmingham Race Course. That gaming was approved by three different Alabama attorneys general, including the current one, and is without-a-doubt legal.”
But, Moon notes, the racetrack “threatens the future plans of PCI, who see Birmingham as a lucrative new site for a future gaming complex. And so, out trots Albritton, at the first available moment, to raise questions about the legality of it. It’s just so … slimy.”
