Pastor pleads for county to rescind bingo rules

Launching one more, perhaps last, stand of opposition on a proposed country music destination development, with its electronic bingo component, was something the Rev. Ricky Plummer felt he had to do Thursday.

“I don’t come here speaking on behalf of anyone,” said the pastor of Bethal Baptist Church. “I feel I need to state my opposition to the video gaming operation at Country Crossing.”

Plummer, who utilized the five-minute public forum granted to anyone who wishes to address the Houston County Commission, said he wants to face those adversely affected by the project, or lured into gambling, with a clean conscience.

“I could be sitting across from those who have lost everything,” Plummer said. “I wanted to be able to say I did something.”

Calling electronic gambling machines “the crack cocaine of the industry,” Plummer asked the county to rescind its support of electronic bingo. Commissioners did not respond to his request.

A bingo pavilion is just one element of Phase I of Country Crossing, a multi-faceted country music entertainment destination being created on 375 acres of land on U.S. 231 South of Dothan, with investors like George Jones, John Anderson, Tracy Lawrence, Lorrie Morgan and others.

Developer Ronnie Gilley of Resorts Development Group II has pledged a minimum $2 million annual appropriation to area charities. The county has tightened its regulations since they were first enacted in February, requiring a $1,000 per machine annual stamp.

Gilley plans to break ground on the site on Monday.

Plummer further charged that the commission abused its authority in approving new bingo regulations under a “cloud of deception” since most people thought of simple card charitable bingo when the laws were changed, and not electronic machines.

“The truth is, this decision has been made by a few but will have negative consequences for many,” he said, insisting the county should have called for a public vote on the issue.

He said video gambling has numerous negative impacts on a community, including increased bankruptcy, crime and poverty levels.

“Gambling takes from the people. The idea the money will come from tourists is false. It will come from people who live within a 30 to 50-mile radius of the site,” he said, “and the gaming devices will be played by those of a lower socioeconomic standard and by a higher number of the elderly and minorities.”