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Alabama Gubernatorial Candidates Stand On Gambling Issue May Make All The Difference In November’s Election

Posted on April 30th, 2010

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Democratic candidates for Alabama governor Ron Sparks and Artur Davis announced their opposing positions on burning issues that are currently hounding the people of Alabama that could have a significant effect on the outcome of the race for governor come November. Probably the hottest issue in the state today is gambling, particularly the question on whether or not electronic bingo machines are legal, which has caused a conflict among state officials and authorities for many years now.

At press conferences in Montgomery Tuesday, Sparks and Davis aired their stand on gambling along with other issues. Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks, one of those avidly advocating for the expansion of gambling in Alabama admitted that gambling expansion would be one of his first priorities as governor.

Speaking candidly at his news conference, Sparks said if he became the next governor one of the first things he would do after his inauguration is to call the Legislature to a special session in which he would propose a constitutional amendment to expand, tax and regulate gambling. He said he would also be amenable to putting the question of either electronic bingo or full-scale casinos to the ballot.

Raising the contentious issue of electronic bingo machines, Sparks said, “If the people of Alabama want to expand gambling in Alabama, then I’m the governor that would do that.” Further unveiling his legislative platform, Sparks said he would also endorse the state lottery, a luxury he said he wants the people of Alabama to be allowed.

On the other hand, U.S. Representative Artur Davis, at his press conference, said if elected governor, he is partial to a proposed constitutional amendment, that, if approved would not allow electronic bingo casinos. However, he would also support a referendum approved by the Legislature calling for a straightforward yes or no vote on electronic bingo machines without any other stipulation affixed to it. “I’m not afraid of the people having their say,” Davis said.

Republican Governor Bob Riley’s present administration is strongly against electronic bingo casinos, which Alabama has a number of, claiming that the bingo machines are slot machines that are illegal under state law. He has formed a governor’s task force that that has been raiding the bingo halls, trying to close them down by seizing the machines. Another subject taken up at the conferences was Alabama’s 1901 Constitution.

Sparks said he would suggest forming a commission that would endorse a procedure by which the Legislature could rewrite the state constitution one article at a time. Davis, in contrast, wants to call a constitutional convention to redraft the state’ constitution.