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Gambling Widespread in Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Alabama – As reported by the Birmingham News: "In three locations, 20 minutes or less from the state Capitol, bingo casinos operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, bringing in millions of dollars in revenue. None of that is taxed by the state.

"Despite voters' rejection of a state lottery and politicians' vows to limit its spread, gambling has never been so public or widespread in Alabama.

"Even on a Tuesday afternoon, the VictoryLand dog-racing track just east of Montgomery on Interstate 20 has about 300 cars on its parking lot. Inside, the overhead lights are dim, but the machines' lights are rolling and flashing.

"…Alabama is one of a dwindling number of states resisting a nationwide expansion of gambling to produce government revenues.

"…Neighboring Mississippi collected $335 million in state and local taxes on its casinos last year, while the gambling tax Alabama does collect, a pari-mutuel tax on bets at the state's four greyhound tracks, continued a long, steady decline.

"But Alabama's resistance to legalizing gambling hasn't prevented its spread. Beyond the 5,000 legal gambling machines at Greenetrack and VictoryLand dog tracks and on the Indian lands, an untold number of small-scale 'sweepstakes' arcades that offer similar gaming pop up and disappear around the state…"

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