Task force to crack down on gambling
This action came in response to a recent rise in “bingo halls” which house casino-like slot machines prohibited under state law. Though many establishments claim their machines are legal under local charity bingo amendments, the Alabama Supreme Court in 2006 reiterated that slot machines and slot-like machines are expressly forbidden by the Alabama Constitution.
At a news conference at the State Capitol, Governor Riley said this activity is forcing an unacceptable expansion of gambling in Alabama that will spin out of control if the law is not uniformly enforced.
The Governor’s Task Force on Illegal Gambling will be led by Supernumerary District Attorney David Barber, who as Jefferson County District Attorney won the 2006 Alabama Supreme Court ruling that shut down hundreds of slot machines at the Birmingham Race Course. Other task force members include representatives from the Alabama Bureau of Investigation and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
Barber said the task force has begun gathering information on existing casinos and “bingo hall” establishments and will be reaching out to local prosecutors to offer assistance in identifying illegal activity in their areas.
“We are here to help,” Barber said. “This task force will be a resource to any law enforcement official who wants to finally crack down on illegal gambling in their community, but maybe hasn’t had the manpower or investigative tools to do it. Governor Riley has instructed me to make sure the law is enforced in every corner of the state and we intend to do just that.”
A hotline has been set up to allow law enforcement officials and others to contact the task force to report illegal gambling. The hotline number is 1-866-227-8586 .
Governor Riley’s action comes as gambling interests and their allies are once again seeking to legitimize and expand illegal gambling in Alabama. During the last legislative session, the State Senate was in a two month-long gridlock over legislation that sought only to benefit gambling interests.
This time, discussion has centered on instituting a slot machine tax as a solution to the state’s current budget situation, even though the very activity that would be taxed is illegal. Governor Riley said such proposals are preposterous and only meant to distract the public’s attention away from a clandestine attempt to legalize gambling.
“The law is very clear,” Governor Riley said. “But the law doesn’t matter to the gambling interests and their allies. They use the excuse, ‘gambling is already here, so we might as well tax it.’ I say it should not be here at all. It’s illegal. We shouldn’t legalize it. We should get rid of illegal gambling for good wherever it exists in Alabama.”
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