Groups come out to oppose AL gambling legislation
It's been a hot-button issue for years in Alabama. Gambling has been illegal for nearly 125 years. That could all change by the end of the year. As you might expect, there's plenty of opposition.
When Alabama lawmakers announced bills that would legalize gaming, they said it would be a chance to control the illegal gambling already happening in the state. A group opposing the bills, says it would do just the opposite.
Becky Garretson is the executive director for Eagle Forum of Alabama. She says, 鈥淭his mantra of it is illegal, so we need to legalize it to stop the illegal gaming that was made up. That is a PR campaign made up by the lobbying association for the American Gambling Association, which is a lobbying firm.鈥�
State Rep. Jim Carns, who represents part of Shelby County, Mountain Brook and Vestavia says he's concerned with the industries that will lose money because of gambling, industries like retail.
Carns says, 鈥淚t's been advertised that this will bring in $1 billion for the state of Alabama. How much has to be extracted from our commerce and economy to get $1 billion profit?鈥�
Many of those who spoke out against gambling are from various religious groups or former gambling addicts who say it will increase crime and promote addiction, totally changing the culture of Alabama.
Several say even if you want to see gambling in the state these bills are not the way to do it, saying they have built-in corruption.
Stephanie Smith is the president of the Alabama Policy Institute. She says, 鈥淭hey're completely unelected and unaccountable to the people. In addition to that, there are certain segments of those of those commissions and employees of those commissions are exempted from the ethics code. In addition, they are able to own portions of the gambling industry while they are regulating them.鈥�