Special Report

The Battle
Over e g a l
Il l
Gambling
Bingo or Slot Machines? Gambling bosses want you to believe that a slot machine like this one and the game of bingo are
the same thing.

“No One Is Above The Law”

INSIDE Governor’s Task Force Enforces the Law

S
ince state law enforcement began in Alabama continue to operate under the
Who’s Pushing crack- guise of “charity bin-
Slot Machines ing down “Ladies and gentlemen, if we are to fulfill go,” claiming the law
in Alabama on il- our oaths to ensure that the laws are fol- does not apply to them.
legal gambling lowed, how can we permit this flagrant They’ve convinced
page 2 last year, a federal and rampant violation of the law to go
public officials to abet
on? Men and women of principle must
judge, two circuit act now – and act decisively – to ensure their criminal activity
judges and the that the rule of law is not some hollow by turning a blind eye
Immunity for Alabama Supreme standard that is cast aside whenever to the rule of law.
Court have all people with enough money and enough
Casino Bosses? agreed that so- influence decide that the law does not
Governor Bob Ri-
apply to them.”
page 3 called “electronic – Governor Bob Riley, in his State ley made it clear in his
bingo” isn’t bingo of the State address, January 12, 2010 State of the State that
at all. no one would be al-
lowed to break the law
The Real Cost Of Casinos have now been shut down in in Alabama – no matter how powerful or
Casino Gambling Madison, Walker, Mobile and Jefferson politically connected they are. He also
page 4 Counties. Law enforcement there have called upon all public officials to stand up
been diligent in enforcing the law. How- to big money casino bosses and live up to
ever, despite those rulings, casino bosses their oaths of office to uphold the law.
 Alabama bingo fight resurrects
Phenix City memories for John Patterson
Excerpts from article by Robin ... “I don’t like it a bit in the
 “Gambling brings the bad people to town and brings out the bad world,” Patterson said when
DeMonia, The Birmingham
in good people. There’s nothing about it that’s good. ... I called him last week to ask.
News, January 3, 2010

O
  Pretty soon, you’ll find the kingpins sitting up in the Senate gal- “You can put bingo across the
ther Alabamians may have lery, giving a thumb’s up or a thumb’s down to tell people how to top of a slot machine; it’s still a
reasons to hate gambling. vote. I despise that.” slot machine.” ... Patterson, now
But few have as good a – Former Governor John Patterson, whose father was assass- 88 and recovering from serious
reason as John Patterson. inated after trying to shut down illegal gambling in Phenix City heart surgery four months ago,
In 1954, Patterson’s father was has watched with dismay as this
a martyr in the campaign to clean form of gambling took root in
up Phenix City. Albert Patterson had waged the state, aided by the blessings of some public
a victorious race for attorney general on the officials and the paralysis of others.  He fears
promise to rid “the wickedest city in America” other cities will live to regret opening the door
of gambling and other illegal enterprises. to gambling, which he believes will lead to
... Before he could take office, the elder everything from prostitution to political cor-
Patterson was shot dead outside the law office ruption.
he shared with his son. John Patterson was ... Lest you think Patterson’s fears are a bit
elected attorney general in his father’s place, overblown, remember: A sheriff’s deputy was
determined to restore law and order in Phenix convicted of Albert Patterson’s murder. The
City. ... You can’t read the parts about Phenix local district attorney also was implicated, but
City [in When Good Men Do Nothing: The As- Albert Fuller points to blood on a sidewalk in was acquitted. The state attorney general, also
sassination of Albert Patterson] without spot- charged, never went to trial.
Phenix City, Alabama, after the murder of Albert
ting parallels to today’s battles over electronic Patterson. Fuller, chief deputy sheriff of Russell ... “There’s a group of people in the Leg-
bingo — or wondering what Patterson thinks County, was one of three men indicted for the mur- islature who think gambling is the answer to
of it all. der of Albert Patterson. Courtesy Alabama Depart- all their problems,” he said. “Gambling never
ment of Archives and History solved any damn problem.”

Frank Fahrenkopf, CEO of the American Gaming Association —

the largest pro-gambling lobby in our country — said not long ago that he
would vote against a casino if it were to be built in his hometown.   

Who’s pushing slot machines in Alabama? 

J
ust before the 2009 Legisla-
tive Session, the Executive
Secretary of the Alabama
teachers’ union hosted what The
Birmingham News called a “con-
clave of gambling interests” to
discuss legalizing slot machine
gambling in the state.
It has been reported that this
“conclave” included:
• Milton McGregor, Alabama’s
chief gambling magnate, who
sends millions in contributions to
elected officials.
• Ronnie Gilley, a casino devel-
oper who, with the aid of local
politicians, obtained an illegal
restraining order legislative nities? Who are we handing the
“The absolute lowest rung of
to protect his ca- races to pro- keys of our state government to?
our industry’s ladder has set
sino from a legal tect their em- At a recent casino trade show
up shop in Alabama,” includ-
search warrant. pire, which, in Las Vegas, Gary Green, Syn-
• Paul Hub- ing “companies and individu- according to ergy Gaming Executive Vice-
bert, leader of als that have been thrown The News, President, a gambling industry
Alabama’s teach- out of almost every legitimate will “create leader said ... “The absolute
ers’ union, who gaming State.” an absolute lowest rung of our industry’s
made almost $10 – Gary Green, Synergy Gam- stranglehold ladder has set up shop in Ala-
million in politi- ing Executive Vice President on govern- bama,” including “companies
cal contributions ment.” and individuals that have been
during the last election cycle. This begs some serious ques- thown out of almost every legiti-
Surely, if the coalition prevails, tions. Just who else is a part of mate gaming State.”
they stand to make billions off this coalition that is pushing leg- Alabamians should think twice
the backs of Alabama’s poorest islation to decriminalize gambling about who we are inviting into our
citizens. Additionally, they will in the state? What shady figures state and our communities.
spend untold millions in Alabama are we inviting into our commu-
Casino Bosses Would Get Criminal and Civil Immunity,

X
Won’t Be Required To Pay Taxes
House Committee: Casino Bosses Can’t Be Sued,
Can’t Be Prosecuted or Required To Pay Taxes

I
n an alarming development this connections in the Legislature to pass
legislative session, the House of a bill that would put them above the
Representa- law.
tives Tourism Ordinary citi-
and Travel Com- This bill puts the casino zens have to pay
mittee approved taxes and obey
a bill that, if
cartel above the law, in every law. But if
enacted, would every way. If they com- this bill passes,
give casinos to- mit a crime, they can’t be big-money ca-
tal amnesty from prosecuted. If they wrong sinos would be
taxes, criminal someone, they can’t be exempt from
prosecution and sued. They don’t even taxation and im-
civil lawsuits. mune from pros-
This could allow
have to pay taxes. As a ecution for violat-
casinos to be op- nation, we believe NO ing Alabama’s
“ ... now after all of these judgments, the only erated anywhere ONE is above the law. gambling laws.
people who say these machines are legal are the in Alabama, But, THEY WILL BE. This Could it really
casino bosses and their supporters ...” largely out of is an insult to every law- be true that the
– Governor Bob Riley the reach of state money and power
abiding, tax-paying citi-
and local law wielded by ca-
The Supreme Court of Alabama, our state’s highest enforcement.
zen and shows just how sino bosses over
court, held:  “The machines at issue ‘have none of For years, ca- far their greed and arro- this legislature
the elements of human skill and interaction that are sinos in Alabama gance goes. has clouded our
fundamental to the game of bingo.’” have operated in elected represen-
 “...[W]e must conclude that the term ‘bingo’ ... flagrant viola- tatives’ judgment
was intended to reference the game commonly or tion of the law. to this degree?
traditionally known as bingo.” Now, fearful that the law is finally And if they will go so far as to place
– Barber v. Cornerstone Community Outreach catching up to them, casino casino bosses above the law, how
November 13, 2009 operators are working their political much farther would they go?

DON’T GAMBLE AWAY ALABAMA’S FUTURE

Join the fight against illegal gambling.
Call your representative or senator and tell them to say NO to casinos in Alabama.
House of Representatives: 334-242-7600
Senate: 334-242-7800
Sign up at www.citizensforabetteral.com.
Follow us on Twitter at TWITTER: http://twitter.com/CasinosCorrupt
Keep up to date with our BLOG: CitizensforaBetterAL.wordpress.com
The Real Costs of Casino Gambling
Casinos cause more crime.
• The crime rate for ca-
sino communities is 84%
higher than the national
average.
• Two years after the
introduction of casinos
in Gulfport, prostitution
arrests were up 85% and
ten categories of violent
crime were up by 64%.
Casino gambling destroys
families.
• Four years after casinos opened in Harri-
son County, Mississippi, the annual number
of divorces nearly tripled.
• Between 10-17% of chil-
dren of compulsive gam-
blers have been abused.
• A woman whose partner is
a problem gambler is 10.5
times more likely to be the
victim of domestic abuse.
Casinos corrupt
public officials
and the political
process.
• “Three years after gambling was legalized
in Louisiana, gambling interests accounted • 55 counties that got casinos between 1990
for one of every three dollars making their and 1992 showed no significant economic
way into Louisiana lawmak-
ers’ campaign coffers…” The
Birmingham News, August 26,
2009
• The gambling industry in
Ohio recently outspent its
opponents $47 million to $9
million to win a statewide
referendum to legalize casino
gambling.
• Groups pushing to legalize
Las Vegas style gambling in
Alabama reported giving $11.3
million to influence votes dur-
PAID FOR BY CITIZENS FOR A BETTER ALABAMA, P.O. Box 382945, Birmingham, AL 35238, CitizensforaBetterAL.com
ing the 2006 campaign cycle.  Casinos cost
Casinos
do not rescue jobs
or state budgets
from economic
downturns.
• Nevada, the epicenter of
legalized gambling, has the
2nd highest unemployment
rate in the nation (12.9%) and ranks #1 in
home foreclosures.
• Nevada is hemorrhaging tax revenue,
leading to a projected $2.1 billion budget
shortfall for 2011.
• Casinos have not
prevented “the biggest bud-
get crisis Mississippi
has seen in almost a centu-
ry.” Hattiesburg American,
December 20, 2009
Casinos destroy
local businesses
and shift profits
to major out-of-
state gambling
outfits.
benefits.
• More than 70% of busi-
nesses in Natchez, Missi-
ssippi, reported declining sales
within a few months of the
opening of that city’s first river-
boat.
• $12.5 million, or 65% of the
“bingo” revenue at White Hall,
is paid to out-of-state gambling
machine suppliers in the form
of so-called “software licensing
fees.”
taxpayers more
than they
generate in tax revenue.
• For every $1 casinos contribute in taxes,
casinos cost taxpayers at least $3 in addi-
tional government programs and services to
manage the consequences.
Casinos prey on the poor and
middle-class, redistributing
their incomes to rich, out-of-
state gambling interests.
• “Economically speaking, gambling is a
regressive tax. Money spent on gambling is
money not spent on milk.” Dr. Keivan De-
ravi, Auburn University Montgomery
• 80% of gambling revenue comes from
households with incomes of less than
$50,000 a year.
Where does the money go?
White Hall Financial Data
15.04%
10.83%
9.32%
64.79%
Salaries and wages
Money for charities
“Other” expenses
Licensing fees to
out-of-state slot machine
companies