Questioning bingo probe

Published 1:19 am Monday, December 6, 2004

By Staff
Our View
Alabama Attorney General Troy King announced the findings of his gaming probe this week.
Law, especially in Alabama, often leaves gray areas, open to interpretation, and just as often open to confusion.
While it is wise to carefully review these areas, we have to wonder at just what the motivation was for this high profile, months long probe into the few gaming operations around the state.
If you will recall, complaints from the Christian Coaliton of Alabama helped spur this investigation. It was revealed that this organization was taking contributions from Mississippi casino operations. Strange bedfellows indeed.
We also have to wonder at King's personal motivations for this probe.
In the end, King admits he has no jurisdiction over the gaming operations at the Poarch Creek Indian reservations at either Atmore or Wetumpka.
That's not the end of this story, however. King said he will be checking with officials overseeing Indian gaming. We will have to wait to see where things go from here.
We're confident the Poarch Creek operations are trying to stay within the bounds of the law. We've already seen evidence of that with the decision to delay poker games until further reviews of gambling laws can be reviewed.
None of this is to say we are not opposed to illegal gambling operations. All efforts should be made to shut down illegal operations, but this witch hunt over dog tracks and reservations should end.

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