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Gambling Proposal Not a Priority–Gov. Bentley

Posted on January 23rd, 2011

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The new Governor of Alabama has clearly stated that he is not a gambling advocate. But during his campaign, for fairness’ sake, he has promised a referendum to the State of Alabama so people could vote on whether they would like to have expanded gambling on the state or not. But that promise, may not be fulfilled anytime soon, as the newly seated governor elect has declared the vote for pro and anti gambling may just not happen on his first year in office. Bentley has been, for years, in the front seat as gambling legislation came and went out of the window as he has served in the Alabama State of Representatives, representing Tuscaloosa County. During campaign period, he was lauded by gambling proponents and enthusiasts for being open to a referendum despite his difference in opinion saying, “I believe the people of Alabama need to decide at the ballot box on a yes or no vote whether to allow gambling or abolish all forms of gambling.”

But Bentley also said that only a statewide referendum could successfully sever Alabama’s ties to bingo, dog race tracks and Indian casinos. But now that he is seated in power, those who are waiting for Bentley’s gambling maneuver, was left hanging and waiting. Those following this development even say this could be a start of Bentley trying to wiggle out of that promise. Governor elect Robert Bentley, has also started his reign announcing he will delegate the Governor’s Task Force on Illegal Gambling to the Attorney General’s Office, which will be taken over by Luther Strange. The task force has been a major source of anxiety for the gambling community during former Governor Riley’s administration. It has successfully cracked down several establishments that house video lottery machines and electronic bingo machines. Some gaming halls and bingo facilities were closed as an effect of the crackdown. Slot machines have been declared illegal in Alabama for a long time, but people are enjoying a slot-like machine for years.

The crippling effect of the crackdown was doubly felt, especially when it came during the recession when jobs were hard to come by. Even local officials stood behind the casinos, as a big chunk of valuable tax revenue comes from the gambling industry. Experts say that during recession months, some people turned to gambling in hopes of hitting the jackpot, when cash was just hard to come by. And so this move of Bentley feels like a slap on the face for gamblers and gaming facility operators who saw hope in him, especially when he said he will be “assigning all pending cases and investigative authority to the Attorney General’s office. He further said: “I have transferred the primary responsibility for ensuring that Alabama’s gambling laws are enforced statewide to Attorney General-Elect Luther Strange, I will fully support Attorney General Luther Strange in his efforts to enforce the laws of Alabama, including laws against illegal gambling, Attorney General Strange will follow the law on gambling and he will have my full support.”

Bentley, may have the option to push the idea of a referendum during the Legislature’s annual session on March, but with his current state of mind, he may choose not to. The governor’s stand that he will just observe how the pending cases play out before proposing the referendum to the legislative body may just prove as one of his delaying tactics as those pending cases won’t likely be resolved by the court by March. The federal courts have scheduled the trial for four present and former legislators, two casino developers, and two others who were charged due to accusations of buying and selling pro gambling legislation votes which failed the 2009 and 2010 legislature. But Bentley, has not totally closed his doors on gambling possibilities.

Electronic bingo halls may open, as long as they do so within the boundaries of the law. He also said that, “If the laws are there people need to follow the law. They can not open back up illegally.” He also said that for any closed down gaming hall to reopen, they first have to subject their machines to court or law enforcement inspections that will determine if the machines are good to go under the constitutional amendments regulating such matters. “The law, as it is written, we have to look at it. If they try to open back up, it has to be legal.” the Governor said.