casino Archives • Alabama Political Reporter

Why can’t you just vote on gambling?

There are reasons why you never get to vote on gambling. Those reasons have absolutely nothing to do with what's best for the state.

December 18, 2023

No electronic bingo, no problem for VictoryLand

After replacing the electronic bingo machines with historical horse racing machines, business at the venue has picked up.

June 15, 2023

Self-interested lawmakers are why Alabama gambling laws are so messed up

There are many, many reasons for the mess that is Alabama’s current predicament with gambling — bad laws, lazy and indifferent lawmakers, under-the-table money, constitutional amendments and outside influences all playing roles. But one of the biggest is dishonest politicians with personal gain at stake. People like state Sen. Greg Albritton. If you’re unfamiliar with … Continued

November 15, 2019

Shame on the Kowtow Band of Republicans

When then-citizen casino owner Donald Trump testified before the U.S. Congress about Indian gaming in 1993, the only portion of his statements that the public has been reminded of was when he said, “They don’t look like Indians to me.” But a reading of the transcript reveals Trump recognized even then the negative consequences of … Continued

May 13, 2019

The feds are monitoring Alabama’s lottery debate because something stinks

A couple of weeks ago, as one of the worst lottery bills in history passed the Alabama Senate, I wrote that it would be amazing if the process that led to its passage didn’t get a hard look from one law enforcement agency or another. Well, guess what? As Bill Britt reports today in APR, … Continued

May 9, 2019

McClendon to introduce lottery legislation

State Sen. Jim McClendon, R-Springville, has announced that he will release the details of his lottery bill at a press conference today. The 2019 Alabama regular legislative session resumes today after it was interrupted by Gov. Kay Ivey’s call of a special session to pass her gas tax increase to pay for infrastructure. That passed … Continued

March 19, 2019

Center Stage to give up some bingo games

Center Stage is giving up its electronic bingo operations. Attorneys for the Houston County Economic Development Association (HEDA), which conducts the charitable bingo operation out of the Dothan-area casino, and Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced on Thursday that they had reached an agreement in the state’s lawsuit. Marshall’s office sued Center Stage last year … Continued

September 7, 2018

Analysis: The Poarch Creeks had a very bad day in the Ala. Supreme Court

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter The Alabama Supreme Court on Friday dealt two blows to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians – one directly, one indirectly – with opinions on three cases involving the Poarch Creeks’ casinos in Alabama. On paper, the tribe lost two and won one. But in reality – and in … Continued

September 30, 2017

Experts testify on lottery, VictoryLand and downside of PCI’s tax-free monopoly

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter Governor Robert Bentley’s Gambling Advisory Committee received a crash course on Thursday on the detailed operation of a state lottery and learned the history and tax payments made by the state’s largest non-Indian casino, VictoryLand. Louisiana Lottery president Rose Hudson and New Hampshire Lottery executive director Charlie McIntyre spent … Continued

December 3, 2016