Anyone who though the gambling issue was going away in Alabama anytime soon had better reconsider that position. On Friday, the latest chapter in the gambling saga in the state was written when eleven people pleaded not guilty to federal charges.
The eleven people, many of which are high profile lawmakers or community leaders in Alabama, were charged after a federal indictment was unsealed alleging that the accused took part in a buy and sell vote scheme to push through a gambling bill in the Senate.
The owners of two of the biggest gambling establishments in the state were arrested as part of the indictment. Milton McGregor, owner of VictoryLand, and Ronnie Gilley, developer of Country Crossings, were joined by three lobbyists, four state senators, and two others in court today.
A twelfth defendant in the case has pleaded guilty to being a part of the operation that offered a state senator $2 million for his vote on the gambling bill. The other eleven are maintaining that they did nothing illegal, something that will likely now be determined by a jury.
The gambling bill in question was originally called "corrupt" by Alabama Governor Robert Riley. The legislation would have allowed voters in Alabama the opportunity to decide whether or not to regulate electronic bingo machines in the state. The vote would have threatened Governor Riley's Task Force on Illegal Gambling.
For the final couple of years of Riley's run as governor, the gambling issue has become the most visible and controversial issue in the state. The issue has become so large, that gubernatorial candidates Ron Sparks and Robert Bentley have debated the issue heavily. Sparks is in favor of gambling and has been vocal in his approach to the issue, while Bentley has been more low key on his stance, leaving room for wavering at a later time.
October 15, 2010
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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