Legal gambling may be more honest than most politicians – AL.com

I know everybody was shocked to find out the Alabama Senate delayed action on the lottery, casino bill this past week. It used to be just a lottery bill, but because of the way gaming laws work, the casinos in the state are set to expand as soon as the law changes.

This same Senate that delayed the gambling bill just passed the medical marijuana bill. But since it will still have to make it over the House vote hurdle, you may want to wait before you stock up on rolling papers and Bics. It is not a safe bet, by a long shot.

Poor Del Marsh. Lets all pray for the man. He has been carrying around this gambling bill that would establish an Alabama Education Lottery. He has been trying to explain the benefits, the logic, and the money it would generate. He is trying. We cant ask more of a state senator than that he try. I guess trying is about all the Lord requires of any of us.

The latest block is that the gambling bill is not inclusive enough of all the small gambling entities already operating in the state. And Marsh has to fix the bill, before it can be discussed further.

If you have followed the lottery bill for a while, you already know that even if he fixes the bill to include every entity in the state that offers bingo, then another senator will immediately find something else wrong with it. That is just how the process operates.

Gambling is already allowed in the state and the legislature tries every year to reinvent the wheel, rather than just accepting that it is a form of entertainment. It is not a moral dilemma. Legislatures are not elected to make moral laws. They are not the moral police. And for that matter, what is immoral about gambling? And how does anybody differentiate at this point, with the backdrop of the world behind it?

Alabamians play neighboring states lotteries every day and they flock to Mississippi casinos. If you havent had a day away at one of the casinos in our state, you should maybe give it a spin too. It is as they say electric.

In addition to the lotteries and casinos Alabamians have access to, they can also legally have a fantasy sports team, bet on greyhounds, and play the ponies.

Thats why so many people cant comprehend why there is now a delay of the lottery bill, but the delay balances on class.

The current Class II gambling law allows for competition or bingo-style betting. This is the type of gambling currently operating in Alabama casinos. Class III gambling is centered around random-based numbers. Like dice, or cards, or slot machines that are not based on a bingo card. Since a lottery is based entirely on random numbers, it is a considered Class III gambling.

The same law that makes way for a lottery would simultaneously allow casinos to expand too. And in order for any of it to happen to change the law from Class II to Class III the voters have to vote on it. But first the legislature has to agree to put it on a ballot.

Usually what happens though, if it starts to look like lawmakers can more or less agree on the money aspect which has proven to be extremely difficult for them is one of the them will play the obligatory morality card and start talking about irresponsible people and small children.

Wager as you will, but gambling is clear cut. There are winners, and there are losers, and there are no places in between. Numbers and finish lines dont lie. Politicians thoughthey might.

Amanda Walker is a contributor with AL.com, The Selma Times Journal, Thomasville Times, West Alabama Watchman, and Alabama Gazette. Contact her at Walkerworld77@msn.com or at https://www.facebook.com/AmandaWalker.Columnist.

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Legal gambling may be more honest than most politicians - AL.com