Alabama Governor Inadvertently Makes Point for Legal Gambling

Governor Bob Riley of Alabama tells a confusing tale, in which criminals took advantage of laws against gambling fifty years ago to build an illegal empire, and therefore legal gambling is somehow a bad idea.

Alabama Governor Bob Riley spoke out against legal gambling in his state Tuesday night, but ironically made his opponents' case for them with his examples. Speaking in his State of the State address, Riley reminded residents of the power wielded in the state in the 1950s by illegal gambling interests.

Riley said the criminally-controlled gambling was so strong, attempts to scourge it from the state led to the assassination of a candidate for attorney general. Riley quoted the oft-debunked urban myth that gambling increases crime.

"Ladies and gentlemen, if you vote to let this happen, you'll be swimming in a pool that has more sharks than all the oceans in the world," Riley said.

But gambling proponents say Riley is making exactly the same point they are, only drawing the wrong lesson. Legitimate gambling operators ask for legalization and regulation, precisely so that the criminal element Riley fears is forced out of the gaming black market created by prohibition of gambling.

They point to the story Riley tells of Alabama fifty years ago, and say that laws against gambling helped to create an environment in which crime and illegal gaming blossomed. Only regulation and oversight can prevent such corruption, say casino interests.

Alabama lawmakers are also grumbling that Riley has no legitimate plan to deal with the state budget crisis. Lowell Barron, chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, said Riley is counting on federal money from bills that haven't even been passed yet.

Richard Lindsey, chairman of the House Budget Committee, said a state tax on casinos and gambling would be a good move, and other lawmakers estimated taxing the electronic bingo Riley is trying to exterminate could raise $200 million a year.