Last June, an ad hoc committee of nine Alabama House members was created to study gambling in the state and consider legislation to be introduced in the 2024 session.
In an interview with the website 1819 News, committee member state Rep. Andy Whitt said the committee still is reviewing gambling activities in the state, and presents regular updates to House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter.
Whitt said, “This job was given to me by leadership, and the only way I know to solve an issue is to stick my head under the hood and fix the problem. Our state constitution prohibits lotteries in most forms of those gambling, but we also have 18 constitutional amendments. We also have 67 sheriffs and district attorneys reading the laws and interpreting the laws differently.”
Whitt estimated that there are about 500 illegal gambling venues operating statewide. He said he sent a letter to all 67 county sheriffs asking if gaming was occurring in their county; he received only two responses. A second letter received only four responses. 1819 News received no responses when it asked city and county officials, sheriffs and police departments about gambling in their jurisdictions.
Whitt told 1819 News, “My number one goal always has been we’ve got to shut down these illegal gaming and out-of-state entities that are coming in. It looks a lot like prohibition, it’s the Wild West in Alabama in gaming. We have people from Ontario. We have people from Ohio, New Jersey, Georgia, Mississippi and the list goes on and on that owns and operates casinos in Alabama. They own the real estate, own the machines, registered LLCs.”
Whitt added he has spoken with several other legislators and members of law enforcement and believes a state gaming commission is necessary to enforce any new gambling laws. Also, he said penalties for illegal gambling must be increased.
State Attorney General Steve Marshall acknowledged that enforcement is a concern. He said, “Enforcement of Alabama’s anti-gambling laws requires a partnership between state and local officials. Where those partnerships are strong, as we’ve seen, enforcement is effective. Where those partnerships are weak, enforcement is more difficult. What we need is stronger leadership in some areas of our state. You cannot cure corruption with legalization.”
1819 News also spoke to District Attorney Pamela Casey of the 41st Judicial Circuit. She said, “DAs’ hands are tied in these situations. If deputies or officers make arrests, we prosecute them. I’ve sent warnings to businesses, and most cease to operate, but if they refuse, we will prosecute them.”
1819 News noted some of the Alabama Sheriffs Association’s publications have included ads for gambling. Sheriff Association President Jimmy Lambert explained, “The Alabama Sheriffs Star magazine is a publication owned and operated by a publishing company based outside the state of Alabama. The Alabama Sheriffs Association has been in a contract with this company since the 1980s, long before my tenure as the executive director, which began in October 2022, and we are not involved in the advertisement sales. We furnish all Association content. This independent company is in charge of sales of advertisements for the magazine.”
Lambert added, “The Alabama Sheriffs Association and its 67 Sheriffs do not condone any form of illegal gambling in our state. The Alabama Sheriffs Association and sheriffs support legislation that will strengthen our laws against illegal gambling by enhancing the penalties and fines for such activities. The Sheriffs Association and our sheriffs stand ready to work with our state leaders in any way possible to improve these efforts as we move forward.”
