Bingo Rallies Draw Big Crowd & Big Names

Opponents of electronic bingo casinos held a rally at the Alabama Statehouse.

Over the past month, Governor Bob Riley's anti-gambling task force has been threatening to raid several bingo pavilions across the state to confiscate machines he says are illegal.

Supporters of electronic bingo showed up as well. They yelled "Bob Took Our Jobs!"

Three large-scale bingo halls have shutdown leaving thousands unemployed. Many of the bingo supporters in Montgomery worked at Victoryland or Country Crossing.

People leaned out of the Alabama State House to listen in.

Riley joined the anti-bingo rally after a state trooper got the crowd to back up. Riley's remarks were difficult to hear over the shouting, but he said the law in Alabama is clear that electronic bingo machines are illegal slot machines. The governor also said casinos lead to more poverty rather than creating jobs.

“Milton McGregor (owner of Victoryland) and Ronnie Gilley (owner of Country Crossing) should be ashamed," said Jeff Emerson, the Communications Director for Governor Riley. "Threatening tactics, intimidation, shouting down ministers, the use of profanity, all at a peaceful gathering designed to let people who oppose casinos to voice their concerns. Alabamians need to pay attention to the low road tactics they use to attack those who dare disagree with them and their plans to get a no-bid casino bill through the Legislature.”

Country Crossing organized a rally for proponents that started at 2 p.m. Country singers Tracy Lawrence, John Anderson and Darryl Worley are taking part.

Worley told the crowd that he's no politician, but he is a christian and supports the people's right to vote. He said Ronnie Gilley, the owner of Country Crossing, is a dear friend and that he loves Alabama.

What Worley and the other country music stars supporting Let Alabama Vote is that some, if not all, have a financial stake in the bingo battle.

Take a look at the name's of the businesses at Country Crossing -
- Darryl Worley's Worley Bird Saloon"
- John Anderson's Cafeteria
- "Lorrie Morgan's Hot Chicken"
- "George Jones' Possum Holler Bed and Breakfast" (Suites start at $224 per night)

Tracy Lawrence

The second rally started at the same time the Alabama Senate convened. Legislation pending in the Senate would allow 10 electronic bingo casinos in Alabama, including Country Crossing.

But the electronic bingo legislation was not on the Senate's work agenda Tuesday. Senate Rules Committee Chairman Lowell Barron said he did not put the bill on the agenda because talks are still going on. He said he has told supporters that he will put the bill on the Senate's work agenda when they assure him they have the 21 votes needed for passage.