Sparks Pushing Hard For Regulated Gambling System In Alabama

Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks understands that there is unregulated gambling taking place in Alabama. He is not one of those people that believes that these operations should continue to run without paying taxes.

Sparks is running for governor in Alabama and he wants everyone to understand his position on gambling. He wants a regulated system and he wants people to stop believing that gambling is not taking place in their state.

"We have this distaste (for gambling), but records show that there were four million visits from Alabama to Mississippi (gambling spots)," said Sparks, as reported in the Times Daily, "I want a statewide gambling commission. I'm going to tax what gambling is here in this state and if you want gambling in your county, vote it in. If you don't, vote it out."

This stance by Sparks is opposite of current Governor Robert Riley. Riley has set up a task force to seek out all gambling establishments and close them down. Riley interprets current Alabama law to mean that all locations running electronic gaming machines are doing so illegally.

That is the problem with the current gambling laws in Alabama. There is a gray area and depending on who is asked, different answers will be given as to the legality of gambling in the state. Sparks wants all of the guessing taken out of the issue.

Sparks' pro-gambling platform is one that has worked for politicians in other states. Governor Duval Patrick successfully ran for office in Massachusetts on the idea of expanding casino gambling in the state. Patrick has not yet been successful, but legislators in Massachusetts are currently exploring the casino resort option.

September 15, 2009
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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