Citizens Rally for Bingo in US State of Alabama
The Governor of the US state of Alabama, Bob Riley, recently held court in front of the Alabama Statehouse in the capital of Montgomery to address his opposition to casinos that offered bingo machines, devices that he feels are the same as slot machines which the state of Alabama does not presently allow. During his speech, a crowd of hundreds converged on the assembled and voiced their protest against the governor and his supporters, chanting “Let us vote” to such a high volume that the governor was drowned out despite his sound system. State legislators had been inside the Statehouse being lobbied by casino advocates who would like to see 10 electronic bingo casinos within the state, but the political power required has not yet been achieved. Twenty one of the thirty five state senators will need to vote in favor of the bill in order for it to be passed. Industry analysts familiar with casino legislation in the United States have expressed their insight that the bill will eventually pass and that it is simply a matter of the casino developers in question negotiating the right amount of state tax revenue in order to gain political support for their cause.
Representative Barron, who is in charge of presenting such measures, has expressed his support of the idea as a good way to build state funds in a time of economic despair and a bright source of funding for state needs. Dog tracks, popular in the state, would be able to expand their greyhound racing operations to include electronic bingo casinos once the law passes, but a vote by the House of Representatives will be needed first.