Governor addresses Country Crossing’s claims
Published: October 30, 2009
Updated: November 30, 2009
MONTGOMERY (AP) — Officials with the Country Crossing development in Houston County are complaining that a member of the governor’s staff attempted to stop the shipment of about 1,700 electronic gaming machines from Nevada.
Country Crossing spokesman Jay Walker said the call to the Nevada Gaming Commission was made by the governor’s deputy legal adviser, Sonny Reagan.
Riley said Friday that his staff has been making phone calls to make sure that “gaming commissions and the people who make the machines know it’s illegal to bring the machines into Alabama.”
Riley said he believes rulings by several judges in recent weeks have made it clear that electronic bingo machines are illegal in Alabama.
“We don’t think there is any ambiguity in the law and there never has been,” Riley said.
Country Crossing officials have said a ruling Monday by Jefferson County Circuit Judge Robert Vance applied only to the machines in Walker County and does not apply to plans for electronic bingo at the country music themed development being built south of Dothan.
Houston County and other officials held a Friday morning news conference to discuss the positive impact the development would have on economic development in Dothan and other parts of the Wiregrass region of southeast Alabama.
Riley said he supports building a development in Houston County that would include country music venues and restaurants.
“It would be great. It could be the next Branson, Mo. But Branson does not allow gambling and I’m not going to allow gambling to be a part of this,” Riley said, referring to the popular country music-based development in Missouri.
Reader Reactions
Riley does not have the power or clout to stop CC. But i can understand his reason for the attempt. I suspect him and gilley laugh about it over a good meal with a bottle of chablis.
I support Country Crossing and it’s ideals. Governor Riley, and his administration has spent to many tax dollars on Gov. Riley’s so called crusade against Bingo. How much money has Gov. Riley thrown too his family and friends? Millions and perfect example of that is his son and the Paragon deal he/Riley is so eager to sign seal and deliver. Come on people this is 2009. Alabama is if I understand correctly 10th in the country ref. unemployment. It was just last night I saw on the news that the judicial system may have to layoff hard working employees. Look at our educational system and how Gov. Riley is failing our children and our teachers. Gov. Riley you have shown the voters your true colors and we all know who you care about and it sure isn’t the unemployed, the homeless, the poor. It’s your family that’s all that matters. I applaud our local leaders for standing up for Country Crossing and I pray that Gov. Riley see’s the absolute error in his ways. Unfortunately, we as voters have one more year of this dictatorship style of government. I want to see Bingo legalized,taxed and regulated so the money stays in Alabama towards Alabama families and our childrens education. Not in Gov. Riley’s pocket or his families bank accounts.
Thank You.
Oh, that’s not the half of it. There are 16,000 Native American-run bingo machines in this state and no one can and ever will be able to do anything about that.
Riley has missed the boat on that one.
Yeah, there’s bingo gambling 15 minutes from the capital in Shorter, AL at Victoryland.
Gambling is already legal in the state in several forms. So, now the governor comes out with his real motive… stop Country Crossing.
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