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Posts Tagged ‘Alabama’

Victory Land in AL May be in Danger

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

Alabama is still in the midst of gambling debates. Governor Riley has been a strong opponent to legalizing gambling and even created a task force specifically focused on gambling activities. The task force is busy finding and shutting down gambling within the state. Though right now Riley has been pining hard to shore up rules against gambling, he also is close to the end of his term as governor. This means that a lot of his staunch rulings against gambling may be challenged. Even residents who want gambling in the state are already planning on their own campaigns to bring gambling in. No one knows what the next governor’s stand on the issue will be and he may or may not be focused on making gambling legal. Either way, gambling will be an important issue for any candidate who moves into office as governor.

One location within the state that is making a big difference in the issue is Victory Land. That is a casino resort that has thousands of table games and video slots. The purpose of the casino is to bring the best gaming in the world to the residents of the area. It has had a lot of success and brought in its own share of dollars to the state. Unfortunately Riley has targeted the location for closing since it is a gambling operation. The business however has retaliated with a range of court ordered stays and such. There is a hefty battle between the two entities, each having their own solid reasons why their position should be upheld. One of the biggest arguments owners of Victory Land has is that if it is closed due to the governor’s task force that will put hundreds of residents out of work. The unemployment rates are still high in the country and a mass closing like this will do little to bring that number down and help people get back on their financial feet. Only time will tell what is going to happen with the business of gambling but one thing is for sure: gambling will continue to take a focus with legislators and they will affect residents and businesses alike within the market.

AL Governor May Have to Rethink Position on Gambling

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

Alabama is heavy in debates over gambling. It’s no secret that every state is fighting out the legalization and regulation of gambling. On one hand you have those who are pro gambling- they believe that with the proper regulation gambling can bring in millions of tax revenue dollars. In today’s economy, there are few businesses that would turn down the millions available in additional money. On the other hand, there is the anti gambling group of supporters who believe that the ethical cost of having legalized gambling is too much to deal with. They believe that inevitably gambling would bring about too many other problems like crime, money laundering and addictions. Without the proper ways to manage these issues, it would mean sure disaster for communities.

Alabama is a state that has taken on a strong stand against gambling and Governor Robert Riley has been instrumental in the pitch to keep gambling out of the state. He created a task force to specifically handle gambling activities by finding them and then breaking them up. Though he has a supportive team, now it seems that a new argument is coming into the mix. The governor is targeting Victory Land. Victory Land is a gambling location within the state that currently holds the title of the largest employer in the state. That means if it is shut down, it will send thousands of residents to the unemployment line. Considering that the economy is still close to the recession, things have not leveled out as of yet. It may put these people on the brink of financial troubles if they now lose their jobs. Governor Riley is under attack because if he does shut down the location, it will adversely affect a huge portion of the state’s population. In the past few months there have been legal moves by both sides to continue the move on Victory Land. If the location is closed down due to the Task Force, then that could mean the confiscation of over 6,000 gambling machines. That would cut back on the revenue the state brings in and seriously put residents in financial danger.

AL Sees Issues with Gaming in Near Future

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

Alabama has been debating gambling laws for a while now. Governor Robert Riley formed a Task Force on Illegal Gambling a few months ago and the purpose of the team was to control illegal gambling. They have swiftly taken action over the past few months to uncover, investigate and close down illegal operations. The problem is that shutting down various locations is also eliminating much-needed jobs. This is an offshoot of the problem that has yet to be addressed until now. Alabama residents are having issues and will continue with them throughout the future until this is sorted out completely.

Residents of the US have suffered a great loss in jobs in the past few years. The recession caused many businesses to shut down or to go through major cut backs. The unemployment rate soared and millions of Americans were left out of jobs. Now, that unemployment issue is still rearing its ugly head via new changes in the market. For example, in Alabama Greenetrack is one of the biggest companies and employs the highest number of workers in the state. Unfortunately it was hit hard by the Governor’s Task Force. The facility was raided and hundreds of bingo machines were seized. Once the machines were gone, the facility was shut down.

Although the Greenetrack is appealing the decision, that does little good for the hundreds of residents who are employed at the facility. They are at a loss for finding new jobs. Many have been with the facility for years and now are left in teh same unemployment line as the other millions of Americans are. So far, Attorney General King has tried to step into the actions of the Task Force. He believes that it needs to be regulated to not put hundreds of
residents in unemployment danger. It will take some time for the issue to sort itself out. Residents are left reeling while the legalities are sorted out. The governor will continue his directions to the Task Force, wanting them to continue finding illegal operations and shutting them down swiftly and completely.

Alabama Still Debating over Bingo

Friday, April 9th, 2010

Alabama is a state that has long been in the midst of debates over gambling and now bingo, namely, is up to the chopping block. Governor Bob Riley has been a force against gambling since the issue first arose a few years ago. He has consistently stood against it and pined for legislation to ban it within the state’s borders. Now he is taking aim at the state’s electronic bingo machines because they are an offshoot of slot machines, which are illegal within the state. So far the Governor has created a task force that is set to block all bingo machine gaming. The group must police the state and has already closed down over thirty gambling halls and left a few hundred people out of their jobs. Many of those closings happened in low-income, black areas and that is causing tension.

Black leaders are now issuing complaints about the loss of jobs in particular. They see the economy as still a harrowing one where jobs cannot be eliminated. They are also citing the losee of tax revenue from gambling as a reason why the governor should stop his adamant moves to thwart it altogether. Former state Senator George Clay is taking notice of the issue and citing the 1950s move to prevent desegregation of schools by shutting down the Macon County economy. He states that the moves Riley is making are reminiscent of the illegal moves made over a half-a-century ago.

John Tyson is the task force commander and he insists that this is not a repeat of the former incident. The one happening now does not prey on the innocent, as Tyson stated. Despite his argument, many are seeing a correlation between incidents since the communities involved are losing so much in the process. They claim that the governor is targeting low-income neighborhoods and they have no other reasonable replacement activities for jobs or revenue. Various individuals within the community are garnering help from political figures to stand against the governor’s move. They want to create a support system for laid-off bingo hall workers and a referendum vote to reopen the halls.

Alabama Gambling Debate Gaining Notice

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Whether it was his intention or not, Governor Robert Riley has made gambling a major issue in Alabama over the past year. The debates are only expected to get more heated this week with two of the biggest gambling establishments still closed. VictoryLand and Country Crossings closed after word of a planned gambling raid spread. The raid was to be carried out by Governor Riley’s Task Force on Illegal Gambling. Initially a judge ruled it unconstitutional for the raid to take place, however, a recent court order found that the under state constitution a raid may be legal.
Adding to the drama of the gambling debate, Representative Marcel Black introduced legislation this year that would allow voters to decide whether to legalize and regulate video gambling in Alabama. According to the polls, residents would likely vote in such a legislation in hopes that such legislation would aid in fixing the state’s budget deficit.
Alabama was one of the state’s that was largely against expanded gambling, but the economy has changed the minds of many residents and there is statewide dissatisfaction with how the current governor is handling gambling issues.  Many people in Alabama rely on their jobs at VictoryLand and Country Crossings to pay their bills. With the recent closures, these employees are panicky, not knowing whether or not they will be laid off for good and this has changed the minds of many of those who previously would have voted against legalizing gambling.

This week could play a big part in that answer. Legislators are pushing for the Supreme Court to define the gambling that is taking place on the bingo machines.  While all of this is going on, the Governor Riley plans to increase raids to end illegal gambling.  It will be interesting to see if he is successful in keeping gambling out of the state. The big draw is that gambling is known to bring in millions of dollars to state coffers. Since the recession, many states are at a loss of finding ways to generate big dollars and gambling could be just the answer they need to elevate revenues.

Alabama Protesters Want to Vote on Victoryland Casino

Friday, February 5th, 2010

Outside of Alabama’s state capitol, bus-loads of protesters were waiting to have their voices heard.  “Let us vote!”, they cried enthusiastically. Over 100 people were packed onto the steps of the state capitol building to take a stand against Governor Riley’s task force on illegal gambling.  The state is currently waiting for the Alabama Supreme Court to rule if they can follow through on a planned raid of Victoryland Casino.  The hang up, however, comes from a push in Montgomery from politicians and others to bring this continuing issue to a statewide vote. Despite protesters calling the Governor and his task force to task, the Governor isn’t backing down. He has been a long-standing opponent of the move and knows full well what a huge task he has before him if he is going to stand strong. Thus far, he is managing to uphold his position and deny casinos.

“About a year ago we determined that there was absolutely no gray area, no ambiguity in the law. The law is crystal clear that you can not do what these casino’s are doing today,” said Governor Riley. Shortly after leaving the capitol, the Governor had to leave to go to Washington, DC, where he and other legislators were to meet with President Barack Obama regarding energy issues. The Governor did take the chance outside the capitol, however, to say that he had a choice to make when the Attorney General and some local officials were unwilling to act and that’s why he created the task force on illegal gambling. Some believe that it is only a matter time before Riley is forced to relent.

The debates are still going on, but one thing that the legislators do know is that by eliminating gambilng, they are turning away the millions in tax-dollar revenue that could potentially help turn the state’s economy around for the good. It will be time before any changes are seen and until them, both parties are left to duke it out over legalizing the games. No one knows where it will end up, but if Riley has his way, he will stand firm on the issue and not allow the casinos to continue running.

Rivalries Intensify Between Alabama and Mississippi Casinos

Friday, February 5th, 2010

Casino operators in Biloxi, Miss., were the target of a little competitive surprise last month when a large blimp floating over their Gulf Coast rooftops invited gamblers to try their luck—but not at Mississippi complexes.  Instead, the 178-foot-long blimp sang the praises of Wind Creek Casino & Hotel, a 17-story resort 120 miles away in rural Alabama. Mississippi casinos have long been a stronghold of Southern gambling, but, as the competition for customers stiffens in the economic downturn, a growing number of luxury resorts in neighboring Alabama are vying to siphon off. Revenue at Mississippi casinos fell 8% in 2009 to $2.4 billion, which industry officials in both states attributed to the economy and more competition. Alabama officials say they don’t track casino revenue.

The battle between Alabama and Mississippi casinos comes as Alabama Republican Gov. Bob Riley is cracking down on electronic bingo machines, a popular form of gambling in the state. Mr. Riley says that because they qualify as slot machines, which are illegal in Alabama, the bingo machines are also illegal. Raids on establishments providing access to electronic bingo games were raided, and three have subsequently closed their doors.  While the Alabama Supreme Court rules on the legality of electronic bingo machines, thousands of Alabama casino employees are waiting to hear if they will still have jobs next week.

These type of state rivalries over gambling revenues are becoming more and more common.  Ohio voters approved an amendment in November to build casinos in four cities that the state hopes will draw gamblers, and revenue, from neighboring Indiana and Michigan. Pennsylvania casinos are luring gamblers from Atlantic City, where casino revenue fell 13% to $3.9 billion in 2009. “With the struggles in Mississippi, part of it obviously has to do with the economy, and part of it has to do with what’s happening to the east of ‘em,” said a smiling Jay Dorris, president and chief executive of Poarch Creek Indian Gaming Authority, which owns and operates Wind Creek and two other tribal casinos in the state.  Because Wind Creek operates with oversight from the National Indian Gaming Commission, a federal regulatory agency, the casino’s electronic gambling wouldn’t be affected by the Alabama Supreme Court ruling.

AL Governor Under Criticism for Gambling

Friday, January 15th, 2010

Governor Riley of Alabama took some criticism last year. Riley made a bet with Florida Governor Charlie Crist over a football game. He ended up paying off the bet, but it opened a slew of problems for him. Riley has been a strong critic of bingo gambling in his state. He has long petitioned against the games, believing them to be illegal. As with any state, Alabama is drawn sharply on two sides regarding gambling. There is one side who has been gambling for years on video and bingo machines. They believe it is too late to pull the plug on games now, after years of operating. On the other hand is the group who believes bingo gambling is detrimental to society as a whole and will inevitably increase crime, money laundering, addictions and the overall cost to sustain it.

Riley was a critic who worked hard to keep the games out of the state. Part of the problem was that Riley set himself up as a strong opponent of betting and gambling of any kind. He took the staunch side of anti-gambling, citing that it should never be allowed. Then, he made a public bet himself.

Once Riley lost the bet to Crist, he knew there were problems. Despite reservations, he paid off the bed to Crist. That opened the door to a barrage of critics saying that Riley is a hypocrite. He doesn’t want gambling and has spent so much time decrying it to the public, but then he makes bet himself. Alabama residents have been shocked with Riley’s efforts to take away their bingo halls. Riley has set up a task force to seek out these “illegal” gambling establishments, and confiscate the video machines the bingo was being played on. After Riley’s bet, many voters became disgruntled, drawing comparisons between bingo gambling and football gambling. One of the disgruntled residents even pointed out that bingo is legal in some states, while sports’ gambling is illegal in all states except for Nevada and Delaware. Now that Riley has partaken in gambling, it is going to be hard to go back and erase the mistake. It also will be hard for him to remain in the fight against bingo gambling.

NC Fights a Ban on Video Gambling

Saturday, December 26th, 2009

North Carolina is in the midst of debates over video gambling. Like many other states it is looking for new revenue generating activities to shore up coffers. The recession had an adverse affect on all jurisdictions. Spending was down due to the heightened unemployment rate and economies suffered greatly. Now that the recession is over, markets are still in the midst of clean-up. They are trying to come up with funds and gambling keeps coming up as a viable option. Though there are sides to the issue fighting vehemently, it looks like one court battle after another is dictating how monies will be found.

This past Tuesday gambling operators in North Carolina heard a court ruling they were not looking for. The Court of Appeals panel of three judges upheld a state-wide ban on video gambling machines. The legal battle began when the state banned video gambling machines around the state, but contradicted itself by allowing them on an Indian reservation. The mixed message was what operators took task with and Superior Court Judge Howard Manning agreed. He ruled that the state could not ban the machines, but allow them at tribal casinos.
Although there was a victory for gaming operators, later Manning put a stay on his ruling. Unfortunately, the appeals court overturned the decision. Senate leader Marc Basnight said, “This is great news. We worked for so long to try to rid our state of this awful industry. I am very pleased that the Court of Appeals decision will uphold the ban passed by the General Assembly.” The state is now embroiled in the issue of whether or not to allow video slot machines. It is also setting the stage for other state’s battles over the issue. Alabama is the next state weighing in on the topic of video gambling. Many operators have already challeneged former rulings and are hoping to turn things around in a battle with the Supremem Court. Regardless of what happens, the reality is that video gambling is causing a huge stir in markets throughout the US. Only time will tell whether or not it is allowed or banned.