A new media campaign in Alabama hyping the economic benefits of legal gambling in Alabama, including a lottery, has debuted on local television. But Republicans in power don’t seem enthused to back such an effort. (Image: Alabama4Gaming)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Alabama Track Owners Association, which owns four greyhound racetracks, and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians have teamed up for the 2022 campaign.<\/p>\n
The goal is to convince lawmakers to finally allow voters to decide whether to authorize commercial casinos with slot machines, table games, and possibly sports betting.<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Poarch Creek Indians are the only federally recognized tribe in Alabama. The state has refused to engage in a Class III gaming compact with the tribe, therefore blocking its three Wind Creek casinos from offering slots and tables. As a result, Wind Creek Atmore, Montgomery, and Wetumpka only house Class II, bingo-based gaming machines.<\/p>\n
2022 Effort<\/b><\/h2>\n
The Alabama Track Owners Association, through its nonprofit political action group “Alabama4Gaming,” this week unveiled a 30-second television ad that promotes the potential benefits of legalizing full-scale casinos. The group highlights the state approving $700 million in incentives in 2020 to bring a Toyota-Mazda manufacturing plant and some 4,000 new jobs to Huntsville.<\/p>\n
\nLegislators have an opportunity to generate $700 million a year and create 12,000 jobs without spending any tax dollars,”<\/strong> the ad contends. “The equivalent of three auto manufacturing plants if they just let us vote on a gaming and lottery bill.”<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nThe Alabama Constitution prohibits all forms of commercial gambling. To amend the state’s legal framework, a bill must first pass the state legislature with three-fifths majority support. The matter would then go before the people by way of a ballot referendum, where only a simple majority is needed for approval.<\/p>\n