Alabama's Casino Trouble - Now With More Drama

Casino News - February 6th, 2010 - Written By Glen

If one thing is sure it is that Alabama's casino crisis has caused more trouble than it is worth. Whether it is due to the the casinos being closed without warrant, the issue over the old director of the Task Force, or even the new director, there has been a long list of trials, both trivial and turbulent. With both factions struggling to win their argument, the issue has grown beyond measure.

The most recent event to strike Alabama's anti-gambling regime stems from the new director. Mobile's District Attorney, John Tyson Jr., was appointed the head of the task force. Not two weeks after his appointment, the Mobile Press-Register informed constituents that Tyson had received a $100,000 dollar campaign contribution from Milton McGregor, the largest operator of casinos in the state. This money was contributed during the Alabama attorney general race of 2006.

The governor, in order to defend his new ally against agmbling, was quoted at saying, "it proves Milton McGregor or no one else is going to buy John Tyson."

Tyson was also questioned over the issue, this time by the associated press. When asked about the contributions, Tyson said simply, "Mr. McGregor is a major player in elections in Alabama."

Each time a casino is shut down, massive quantities of money are robbed from the state. Both taxable winnings and employment suffer each time a casino is raided and subsequently shut down.

Several casinos have already been impacted, with the Country Crossing Casino the most recent. A major tourist destination, the Country Crossing Casino holds over 1,500 bingo machines. Having closed Friday, no reopening date is currently in sight.

Legislation has been proposed that would legalize casino gaming, bringing competition to Alabama Online Casinos. This legalization would be temporary, however, as the games would remain legal only until the November general elections.