Following the failure of his proposed lottery legislation and contention over electronic bingo, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley recently formed the Alabama Advisory Council on Gaming. The seven-member group will assess state and local laws on gambling and practices in other states, and make recommendations to the governor, Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh and House Speaker Mac McCutcheon by January 1.
Bentley said he hopes the council will provide a “fresh perspective.” Noting three non-Indian electronic bingo casinos currently are illegally operating in the state, Bentley added, “We hope they will come up with some concrete recommendations. It’s a difficult issue. It’s a difficult problem. We need to look at this with some reasonable people and decide what needs to be done and then present that to the legislature.”
One major issue is electronic bingo. Casino owners contend the computerized games are allowed by state laws that authorize bingo in some locations. But the Alabama Supreme Court has ruled state bingo laws authorizing paper bingo games as charitable fundraisers do not include the electronic games.
Bentley and Attorney General Luther Strange recently sent letters to the sheriff and district attorney in Macon and Lowndes counties, asking them to stop “the continued operation of the illegal electronic bingo” at VictoryLand in Macon County and at White Hall and Southern Star casinos in Lowndes county, and to report back with their enforcement plans.
Bentley said the state has no plans to raid the casinos, but local law enforcement should handle it. A lawyer for Macon County Sheriff Andre Brunson said the sheriff considered VictoryLand’s games to be legal, but was willing to investigate any violation as directed by the district attorney.
Strange stated, “Alabamians who are dissatisfied with state laws against gambling have every right to advocate for new laws. Until the law is changed, however, it is the duty of local law enforcement to enforce current law. My office stands ready to assist Governor Bentley and local law enforcement in making sure Alabama laws are upheld.”
