Gambling
Widespread in Alabama
As reported by the Birmingham
News: "In three locations, 20 minutes or
less from the state Capitol, bingo casinos operate
24 hours a day, seven days a week, bringing
in millions of dollars in revenue. None of that
is taxed by the state.
"Despite voters' rejection of
a state lottery and politicians' vows to limit
its spread, gambling has never been so public
or widespread in Alabama.
"Even on a Tuesday afternoon, the VictoryLand
dog-racing track just east of Montgomery on
Interstate 20 has about 300 cars on its parking
lot. Inside, the overhead lights are dim, but
the machines' lights are rolling and flashing.
"…Alabama is one of a dwindling
number of states resisting a nationwide expansion
of gambling to produce government revenues.
"…Neighboring Mississippi collected
$335 million in state and local taxes on its
casinos last year, while the gambling tax Alabama
does collect, a pari-mutuel tax on bets at the
state's four greyhound tracks, continued a long,
steady decline.
"But Alabama's resistance to legalizing
gambling hasn't prevented its spread. Beyond
the 5,000 legal gambling machines at Greenetrack
and VictoryLand dog tracks and on the Indian
lands, an untold number of small-scale 'sweepstakes'
arcades that offer similar gaming pop up and
disappear around the state…"
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