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Clarifying the Alabama Issue

What’s the deal with slot machines in Alabama? Well, answering that is turning out to be quite a problem. Residents are pretty confused about what’s going on with t heir favorite gambling devices, since county-by-county laws all seem to disagree with one another as to the legality of these punters. A few municipalities recently cracked down on electronic bingo machines, which look and operate very much like slots. Other counties maintain that these devices are fine. Now, residents are demanding answers in at least one major Alabama city.

The City Council of Birmingham has responded to citizen requests for clarity by proposing a referendum on electronic bingo terminals. These slot game-esque devices are permitted within six other counties in the state, and contribute handsomely to local coffers. Birmingham wants to be able to offer the machines as well, and has requested that the legislative delegation address the matter. Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford is all in favor of the proposal.

Langford believes that electronic bingo slot games could bring as much as twenty million dollars annually into the city’s coffers. Yet, he’s counting on some resistance from residents. Many Birmingham residents play bingo, but there is a definite “not in my backyard” attitude towards bringing the controversial game terminals into the city itself. They’d rather travel into neighboring cities and counties to get their fix, as there are concerns about the moral soundness of bringing gambling devices into the town. Seven of the City Council members voted in favor of the bingo referendum, and the remaining two councilmembers abstained.

Back to January 2009 Archive.