Gaming commissions in 7 states get letters from Riley
The recent bingo ruling from the Alabama Supreme Court has generated another round of letters to gaming commissions in states where electronic bingo manufacturers may be shipping machines into Alabama.
Gov. Bob Riley released letters written to gaming commissions in Mississippi, Louisiana, New Jersey, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona and Michigan, calling on the commissions to police the manufacturers.
“To the extent your regulations prohibit manufacturers licensed in your jurisdiction from engaging in illegal activities elsewhere, we would respectfully ask for your help in ensuring that those subject to your jurisdiction cease their illegal activities in Alabama,” Riley wrote in the letters dated Nov. 13.
“For our part, we intend to prosecute violations of our law to the fullest extent,” Riley added.
The letters come on the heels of a state Supreme Court ruling Friday that defined bingo, using a 6-pronged test that includes active player participation in the games, up to and including yelling “bingo” when a player has won an individual game.
Country Crossing spokesperson Jay Walker continued to dispute Riley’s assertion that Friday’s ruling made electronic bingo illegal in Alabama, and accused the governor of going to bat for Indian gaming interests.
“(Riley) is fulfilling a campaign promise to the Indian casinos in Mississippi to not allow electronic bingo in Alabama,” spokesperson Jay Walker said in a written statement. “I must give him credit, they are getting their money’s worth, because he is fighting the opening of Country Crossing to the bitter end.”
Todd Stacy, spokesperson for Riley, said Walker’s comments are trite and old.
“Those are the same old, tired lies Don Siegelman, Milton McGregor and the rest of the democrats have been trying to pass off for years. Governor Riley has never fought Country Crossing. To the contrary he said just weeks ago that he absolutely supports the project. They just can’t break the law,“ Stacy said. “These people need to stop hyperventilating. If they’re going to comply with the clear bingo definition put forth by the Supreme Court, which they say they will, what’s all the fuss about?”
Country Crossing has received electronic bingo machines from several different manufacturers. The development’s bingo pavilion will house more than 1,000 machines. The pavilion, along with three restaurants, an RV park, bed and breakfast and amphitheater, will open Dec. 1 at 8 a.m.
Reader Reactions
patriot.gyrl…. It kind of upsets me a little about the religious zealots… I am religious and spiritual, but I also try to be tolerant of others opinions, beliefs, ideas, etc., and I try not to force what I believe on others. I don’t believe forcing a religion on anyone is going to save souls. Example of such ludicrous ideas as shoveling religion in can be found in Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice.“ A judge decreed that the Jew, Shylock, would have to become a Christian as a part of his punishment.
I was wondering…. does anyone here realize that every time you purchase insurance that you are gambling? You are betting something is going to happen to you that requires the insurance. The insurance companies are banking on the statistics that more people won’t need payments than those who do, and the companies can make more from their investments of the constituents’ money.
Perhaps you women should digest (understand)what you read before commenting. Will either one of you point out to me where ‘blame’ was cast on the Indians’? Other than your misunderstanding you are correct that native Americans were treated terrible by our ancestors and this great land was stolen from them. They certainly have my support for making rational and logical decisions concerning the gaming issue.
AMEN patriot.gyrl…I am with you on this. our forefathers ripped the Native Americans off big time.
Ain’t nothin’ wrong with the Native Americans gettin’ whats theirs.
We owe them…they don’t owe us a darn thing. If they can make money off a bunch of idiots who love wasting their money on gambling, MORE POWER TO THEM.
Stop blaming the Native Americans for the inability of some people to use logic and reasoning…
Personally the only reason I like to go to the casino’s is usually they have some really good seafood restaurants in them…My hubby likes the nickel slots so I leave him to them, and I EAT EAT EAT.
And at least at the Native casino’s and the ones in Biloxi, I am not forced to endure the ear splitting sounds of country music the whole time I am there.
Well let be be the first to tell you that gambling is coming and can’t be stopped. If it isn’t voted in, the “native peoples” of this land will bring it. I don’t understand your gripe. Almost every gas station sells alcohol and cigarettes. When you buy gas does any one force you to buy these products or do you ‘choose’ not to or maybe you do- what does it matter?
Wow, a lot of you folks didn’t pay much attention in English class did you? You know the part of class where you were supposed to learn how to write an intelligible paragraph? And spelling…did they teach spelling way back then? I wonder sometimes…
You anti gambling nuts are getting really tiresome. You know, if you don’t like the way Dothan is shaping up, you do have the option to move. I am sure you can find another backwards burgh somewhere else that you can continue to repress with your religious zealotry…like say in Iraq or Afghanistan…someplace that doesn’t mind having a religion rule their lives…someplace that believes that religion should be the main concern of politicians…this is America, and here we don’t believe that government should be controlled by religious dogma and the zealots that follow such dogma. You don’t have the right to make me live like you do…so you might as well move away to someplace that has no desire for progress and moving into the future along with the rest of the country and world.
I bet the recipients in those 7 state shred or dispose of such an intrusive letter by such an egotistical idiot.
Agreed, I’ll wait and see.
They haven’t unveiled the machines they are going to use at Country Crossing yet, but they must be designed in such a way to past this 6 point test. Why else would they remain so confident that they are in compliance? If they aren’t, Riley will be down there the day they open and have all the machines confiscated. Can’t imagine they’d risk millions of dollars in machines being confiscated, and disrupting their opening, if they weren’t positive they were in compliance. Let’s all wait and see what happens Dec. 1.
So, instead of speculating, for or against, let’s all wait a couple of weeks and then we’ll see what is what.
News editor Christie Kulavich guides you to fun events happening in the Wiregrass.
Sports writer Drew Champlin writes about the latest sports news from Troy University.
Reporters Lance Griffin and Debbie Ingram write about latest news released on the country music development planned for Houston County.
Advertisement