Democrat Gambling Bill Opens Alabama Up to More Casinos, Gives Casinos Tax Amnesty

Montgomery State Reps. Jay Love (R Montgomery) and Barry Mask (R Wetumpka) on Wednesday said a Democrat-sponsored gambling bill would exempt casinos in Alabama from paying taxes and would allow casinos to operate anywhere in the state.

The two members of the House Republican Caucus voiced bewilderment about House Bill 154, scheduled to be considered at Wednesdays meeting of the House Tourism and Travel Committee, since Democrats and their casino allies have spent the last year telling Alabamians they want to limit and tax gambling.

The gambling interests and their supporters in the Democrat Party are trying to pull a fast one. The way this bill is written, any slot machine manufacturer with illegal machines already in Alabama can open up a tax-exempt casino anywhere in Alabama, whether or not they have a local amendment on bingo, Mask said.

I thought these same folks were saying that if we let the people vote, we could limit and tax casinos. But it turns out theyre actually trying to bring more casinos into Alabama and give them a total tax amnesty. If the Democrats have their way, Alabama will have more casinos and none of them will pay taxes, Love said. Its the greatest con the Democrats have ever attempted to play on the people of Alabama. Just like Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are exempting their big labor supporters from having to pay the new taxes in Obamacare, Alabama Democrats are exempting their casino friends from having to pay taxes. Its a disgrace for Democrats to do that in D.C. and its just as much a disgrace for Democrats down here to try to do it.

The way Section 1 of the bill defines "engaged in", any slot machine manufacturer or software licenser who had an "Indian equivalent" gambling machine at an Indian casino or at a non-Indian casino on December 1, 2009 could open up a casino in any county in Alabama, regardless of whether or not the county has a local bingo amendment.

Under Section 3 of the bill, all casinos in Alabama in operation on or before Dec. 1, 2009 would be exempt from any and all sales, privilege or license taxes imposed by Alabama law on places of amusement, amusement devices and race tracks.

Sections 4 or 5 of HB 154 would also grant casinos in Alabama immunity from criminal and civil lawsuits.

For years, organized gambling crept into our state and broke our laws by setting up illegal casinos. Now that theyre being shut down, casino bosses want the state to grant them amnesty from their crimes and even amnesty from taxes! Whether its on the Mexican border or right here in Alabama, the Alabama Republican Party doesnt believe in rewarding illegal activity by granting amnesty to law breakers, Mask said.