Alabama Gambling Lobbyist "2 million. It's only a drop in the bucket"

Report: Ala gambling interests gave $2.2M to PACs2/22/2010, 1:06 p.m. CSTKIM CHANDLERThe Associated Press(AP) — MONTGOMERY, Ala. - During the last three days of 2009, Alabama gambling interests wrote checks for more than $2.2 million to political action committees, according to campaign finance reports.The money flowed as the state gears up for election season and a legislative and legal battle that could decide the fate of electronic bingo in the state.

Gambling opponents say it's difficult for them to compete with the deep pockets of bingo operators, while a lawyer for the state's largest casino downplayed the contributions, calling them "a drop in the bucket" compared to what's given overall in a major election cycle.Dog track and bingo casino owner Milton McGregor, along with his two tracks, was the largest contributor among the gambling interests, according to a review of 2009 campaign financial disclosure reports.McGregor and his two tracks gave nearly $1.6 million spread out among more than 30 PACs run by lobbyists and political consultants, according to a sampling of campaign finance records.

Almost all of the money was given in the final three days of 2009.McGregor owns VictoryLand in Macon County, the state's largest bingo casino with more than 6,000 machines. McGregor also owns the Birmingham Race Course -- which could be allowed to have bingo machines under legislation pending in the Alabama Legislature.The state Senate might vote as soon as this week on a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow 10 non-Indian bingo casinos across the state. The measure would be subject to voter approval in a November referendum.

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians gave more than $600,000 to political action committees run by their lobbyist, John Teague. Most of those contributions were dated Dec. 31. The Poarch Creeks operate bingo casinos in Montgomery, Atmore and Wetumpka. Teague also handled nearly $1 million of the contributions from McGregor's tracks.

Other contributors included Greenetrack and Ronnie Gilley, developer of the Country Crossing entertainment center and bingo casino in Houston County.The review of campaign records included 86 PACs that frequently have handled contributions from casinos and their owners. It did not include money contributed directly to candidates or any contributions by lawyers or public relations firms that represent the casinos, because those individuals and firms also represent other clients.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg," said gambling opponent Joe Godfrey, executive director for the Alabama Citizens Action Program. Godfrey said he believed bingo operators will invest tens of millions of dollars in campaigns and advertising because they stand to make "hundreds of millions" off gambling.Godfrey said the casino donations make it difficult for gambling opponents to contend for influence in the halls of the Alabama Legislature. And he said much more money will be poured into a statewide public relations campaign if the bingo measure goes before voters."We can't compete with the advertising and everything else," Godfrey said.

But a lawyer representing McGregor and VictoryLand said the contributions by his clients are "a drop in the bucket in a general election cycle in Alabama" during which every major state office is up for election."VictoryLand and Mr. McGregor's contributions are a matter of public record and so is his position on gaming, but ultimately he is only one man with one vote," John M. Bolton III said."VictoryLand and Mr. McGregor firmly believe that the people of Alabama should have the right to vote on a constitutional amendment that clearly defines bingo, strictly limits and regulates its operation, and generates significant revenue for education, social services and each county in the state," Bolton said.Gov. Bob Riley has been fighting to shut down the bingo operations, arguing the slot machine look-alikes are not what was intended when voters approved constitutional amendments allowing charity bingo operations.

McGregor and other bingo operators contend their machines are legal and that technology allows gamblers to play quick games of bingo electronically.Three of the state's major casinos -- VictoryLand, Country Crossing and White Hall Entertainment Center in Lowndes County -- closed after Riley's Task Force on Illegal Gambling sent large numbers of troopers to raid VictoryLand and Country Crossing last month.The task force did not have a search warrant during the raid attempts, but Riley's task force commander argued a search warrant was not needed if law enforcement officers witnessed a crime in progress.___Information from: The Birmingham News, http://www.al.com/birminghamnews© 2010 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.