Alabama Online Gamblers Take A Night Off For Jimmy Buffett Concert

The oil spill in the Gulf has brought attention to a region that just a few short years ago was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. The oil spill, however, was not a natural disaster, and millions of people around the US are searching for answers.

Jimmy Buffett has built a reputation of being the ultimate beach bum. The singer/songwriter has performed thousands of sold out shows, but none may have been as special as the free concert that he put on in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Buffett had tens of thousands of music lovers packed in for a show to bring awareness on the oil spill.

Online gamblers were included in the crowd, with thousands of bettors taking a break from their computers to listen to the music. The land-based gambling issue has been creating major controversy in Alabama, and Governor Robert Riley has received a lot of slack for his stance on the issue.

Sunday night, however, was about Buffett and the people who witnessed the spectacular concert. Governor Riley, with approval ratings plummeting in his last couple of months in office, even said that he may authorize the use of $15 million in tourism promotion money from BP to fund additional concerts in the coming months.

Anything Riley can do to get voters back on his side will be welcomed by Republican hopefuls to fill Riley's position. The Democratic candidate, Ron Sparks, has already shown his support for regulating gambling in Alabama. The two Republican gubernatorial candidates are both against gambling.

Buffett grew up in Alabama, and his sister owns a popular restaurant in the state. Between the gambling issue and the oil spill, there has not been much for residents to be excited about in recent months. Buffett provided a brief break from the politics.

"It's like a little Jazz fest with an ocean," said Buffett, when he hit the stage, as reported by The Associated Press. "It is a pleasure to be here on a beautiful Gulf Coast day."

July 12, 2010
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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