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Alabama state senator says Indian casinos are winners whatever Legislature decides on electronic bingo
By The Associated Press
February 18, 2010, 2:55PM
Alabama Sen. Larry Dixon, R-Montgomery, says Indian casinos, will be winners in Alabama's bingo debate. (Birmingham News file)MONTGOMERY -- A state senator with two Indian casinos in his district said the tribe wins no matter how the battle over electronic bingo turns out in the Alabama Legislature.
Sen. Larry Dixon, R-Montgomery, said Thursday he's undecided how he will vote on bingo legislation that is expected to come up next week in the Senate. The outcome is likely to be close.
But he said if the measure becomes law, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians gets to add electronic bingo at the Mobile County dog track, where the tribe is the majority owner.
If the legislation fails, he said, the Governor's Task Force on Illegal Gambling will continue trying to shut down non-Indian casinos, and the tribe's casinos in Wetumpka, Montgomery and Atmore will remain open and free of state regulation and taxation.
"They will have a monopoly and we get nothing out of it for the state," said Dixon, who has the Montgomery and Wetumpka casinos in his district.
He said business for the Wetumpka casino has boomed since its nearest competitor and the state's largest casino -- VictoryLand in Shorter -- closed Feb. 1 to prevent a raid by the governor's task force.
The gambling bill pending in the Senate is designed to stop the governor's task force by regulating, taxing and expanding electronic bingo casinos in Alabama. Proponents had hoped to bring the bill to a vote this week, but delayed it because they couldn't get the required super majority -- 21 of 35 senators.
The Senate Rules Committee chairman, Lowell Barron, D-Fyffe, said he plans for his committee to put the proposed constitutional amendment atop the Senate's work agenda for Tuesday or Thursday.
"I think we will have 21 and we will pass it," Barron predicted Thursday.
The bill's sponsor, Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, called the anticipated vote "close." He said he has been working on changes in the bill, including adding a tax on companies that supply electronic bingo machines to casinos.
An opponent, Sen. Phil Poole, D-Tuscaloosa, said the Senate vote is too close to call. If the bill passes there, the next stop is the House. Poole said the opposition appears stronger in the House than in the Senate.
The legislation would allow electronic bingo casinos at 10 locations statewide beyond the three Indian locations. That includes the existing casinos at VictoryLand in Shorter, Greenetrack in Eutaw, White Hall Entertainment Center in Lowndes County, and Country Crossing in Dothan. It also would allow the machines at the dog tracks in Jefferson and Mobile counties, a second location in Lowndes County, and one location each in the 4th, 5th and 6th Congressional Districts. Those three locations would be picked by a state gaming commission.
"They will have a monopoly and we get nothing out of it for the state," said Dixon, who has the Montgomery and Wetumpka casinos in his district.
I thought we stole all the land from these people anyway and pushed almost all of there race to extinction.
There are small bands of 100% Blood Lines of EVERY native American Trib in this nation. I know a man, who lives in Cahsiers, N.C....is 1/8 Cherokee Indian, and as such, EVERY YEAR he recieves his percentage of the profits Harrah's Casino pays the Cherokee, N.C. Indian Reservation Tribal Fathers for their share of Harrah's Casino just inside the entrance to their reservation. Last year his share was just over $14,000.00.
I know many here in NC who have that advantage. Best thing that ever happened to that portion of the state.
Dixon needs to take a look at Riley's motives for this crusade. Does anyone else wonder why in his 7 years of being in office he hasn't uttered a word about Bingo until Country Crossing came around? Riley and all of his cohorts have been tracked back to the Indians in one way or another. It's pretty obvious what is going on here. Are these Senators stupid or paid off? Either way the ones that vote against this bill are not getting my vote next election.
im going to 100% believe that they are paid off, i heard dixon was voting yes then in the last 15 mins i see he was voting no, its being paid off.
Senator Dixon,
Alabama in it's worst economic condition in a long long time. The unemployment rate is the highest in the last 26 years. Jobs are disappearing left and right and Riley seems to be the catalyst of this as of late. Bingo is already played here by the indians and Bob knows he can't get rid of them because they are federally protected. So when he says he is going to rid alabama of gambling he is lying. It is simply impossible. So he really just wants to eliminate Alabamians from profiting off Bingo. Not the Alabamians who own the bingo halls, not the Alabamians that play there and win, and surely not the Alabamians as a whole. The taxes alone would add $300-400 million to the states budget. We need that money, badly. Bob's motives are clear. He wants to create a monopoly for the Indians and will probably retired to the reservation after his term.
Sincerly,
Mikes Mad
""They will have a monopoly and we get nothing out of it for the state," said Dixon, who has the Montgomery and Wetumpka casinos in his district."
Duh!!!!!
Why does he not know how he will vote? Is this fool crazy, or what?
Mike:
22 total posts on AL.Com...All in support of gambling industry.
are you just upset becasue so many people are in support of bingo, and that when we get to vote we will and everyone is going to be so upset we get to enjoy ourselves.
I believe that bingo in Alabama would really be good for the state. I was working at Victoryland as a part time job when I went to community college. Now I don't have a job and I can't afford my text books. I also can't afford my groomer anymore for little Abbey and Rocco. They are starting to smell and my grades are slipping.
ChevyBama:
22 total posts on AL.Com...All in support of gambling industry.
“The pattern has been that the gambling bosses install a bunch of slot machines of a certain type, the machines get declared illegal, and then the gambling bosses install another type of machines and operate them until they get declared illegal. It's a never-ending cycle.”
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Today it's "Bingo Machines"
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CORRUPT History: BINGO,Sweepstakes,Chuck E. Cheese, Etc...
2008: It was "Instant Racing" machines: http://bit.ly/d3WHmC
2006: It was "Cherry Master" machines: http://bit.ly/bq6fue
2005: "Internet Sweepstakes" machines: http://bit.ly/dsUnVt
1998: "Chuck E. Cheese" machines: http://bit.ly/chp6Qk
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Gambling BOSSES don't want your OPINION, They only want YOUR MONEY!!!
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Call your State Representatives & tell them to "SAY NO to BINGO"!!!!
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House – 334-242-7600
Senate – 334-242-7800
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http://bit.ly/2Lozav (AL Senators)
Bob Riley is a Bingo Nazi! He is working for the Indians to make a monopoly for them for the $13 Million they gave to get him elected. He is a dictator and acts without any regard for the laws of Alabama or the best interest of the people. Here he is planning one of his raids…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPot2c1V_Bc
We need to get rid of this dictator and stop letting him rape Alabama economically. We need the tax revenue that electronic bingo will provide ($300 Million+ Annually)!!!
Vote YES for Bingo and Sweet Home Alabama Bill! Alabama needs the Jobs, Taxes, and Freedom of Choice!
MachineGun:
56 total posts on AL.Com...All in support of gambling industry. No postings on sports, crime, weather, national politics, etc.
The Indians are really non of my concern. Let them have bingo. We just want to be able to be on the same playing field as them regarding gaming, but actually pay tax on it. If the bill passes, the indians don't really win, they don't lose either because they are here to stay and Riley can't do a thing because they are federally protected...not like he would because protecting their monopoly is his sole motive for this task force. We need to let Alabama benefit from Bingo and NOT just the indians. We need that tax revenue to improve our terrible school systems. We need that to fix our roads. We need that to keep on 3,400 teachers next year that Riley plans to fire due to budget cuts. Just pass the darn legislation and let the people vote. There is no reason these elected idiots should be able to make this decision for us.
Steve Johnson:
117 total posts on AL.Com...All in support of gambling industry. No postings ever on sports, crime, weather, national politics, etc.
We need to back this bill regardless of whether or not the Indians get another gaming location. Who cares? They already have a bunch. We need to get some of the bingo revenue to help fix some of the problems with Alabama. We aren't getting anymore stimulus money because Riley has done nothing but crap it away. His fiscal track record is terrible and he doesn't deserve another dime from the feds. Riley needs to go and we want bingo back.
SethFolk:
9 total posts on AL.Com...All in support of gambling industry. No prior posts on sports, crime, weather, terrorism, national politics, etc.
alabama is in the worst economic state its ever been in, how could people not want to have bingo halls, they would help us so much in this time.
Not in Poarch, AL. The Native Americans there were not moved off their land.
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