| NEWS NY Times: Alabama’s Longtime Hostility to Gambling Shows Signs of Fading

[JoshB]

“I dread going back into session, if I’m re-elected, knowing that there’s probably going to be fantasy sports, there’s going to be the lottery, there’s going to be sports gambling, the Vegas-type gambling,” said Rich Wingo, a Republican state representative who opposes all those things. “I just feel like we’re going to be inundated with this gambling issue.”

Then don't run for office.

Paraphrased: I dread going back to work to do the job I was elected to do?

And, by the way, what exactly is "Vegas-type gambling?" Uh, gambling?

The legislators are in a bind. While legalizing gambling could bring a lot of money into the state, the majority of the voters don't want it. If the legislators allow gambling, they'll be voted out in the next election. If they put it on a ballot for the voters, it will fail (so why do it? Even voting to get it to ballot could get them unelected). Legalizing gambling also brings the potential of organized crime (who would love to tap into the potential windfall from a state that doesn't know how to protect against organized crime).

Completely and utterly false.

Huge support exists for Alabama gambling vote, pro-gambling group poll shows

And the organized crime thing is probably the most silly thing I've ever read. Ever heard of the Dixie Mafia? Organized crime pops in places that have prohibition, not the other way around.

"...pro-gambling group poll says"

Of course they're going to say that. Organized crime was in Las Vegas and Atlantic City (no prohibition there). If you think the Dixie Mafia is organized crime, you need to research the Cosa Nostra. Plus, there's a reason the Dixie Mafia is based in Biloxi (it's because of the gambling).

Show me another poll... you can't because the people that are against it don't want to poll it... kinda the point.

If you DON'T think the Dixie Mafia is organized crime, you need to research what the term "organized crime" means.

Biloxi, seriously? They didn't freaking legalize gambling until the 1990s. The Dixie Mafia has been around since the 60s. Thanks for proving that point.

And as far as the Mafia goes, they've had influence in Vegas since the 20s. Gambling was legalized in the 30s. Atlantic City/Jersey didn't legalize gambling until the 70s, do we need to say how long the mafia had their foot hold in Jersey? Besides the mafia's biggest racket was also alcohol during prohibition, period and ILLEGAL gambling. They got involved with the legit stuff or awhile before the FBI shut that down.

The Dixie Mafia was based out of Biloxi before gambling was legalized because of all the illegal gambling that was going on. The Dixie Mafia have been known to be involved with moving stolen merchandise, illegal alcohol, and illegal drugs. It is also known for violence, drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms trafficking, extortion, robbery, fraud, and money laundering. The Cosa Nostra Mafia is involved in all of these activities as well as racketeering, gambling, loan sharking, and prostitution. The racketeering can be the most dangerous with casinos as the mob infiltrates the unions and then controls all the personnel operations of a casino. Regardless which mafia it is, they tend to go where there is money to be made and casinos are targets because of the cash nature of the business. The FBI got the mob out of Las Vegas and Atlantic City (allegedly), but there are remnants.

I'm not saying gambling couldn't be good for Alabama. I'm saying that there is still a strong portion of the population that doesn't want it (not even the lottery). It may be changing, but it hasn't changed.

YES... ILLEGAL gambling. That was my ENTIRE point.

Yes, it has changed. You've been shown now TWO polls that show that the majority of Alabamians want it or at the very least for it to get a vote. It's just like beer on Sunday's (or alcohol in general). There is a VERY small number of people that dont want it. They are very loud but they are a minority. The anti gambling people dont want it to be put to a vote because they know what will happen if it does. The politicians dont want it to be put to a vote because they dont want to upset those very loud people and also those certain individuals on certain reservations that like to donate to certain people. That wasn't so subtle because I'm pretty sure it's not even a secret anymore.

Didn't the polls show Hillary was going to win? Your responses make it sound like I'm against it. I'm not. I know the state can use the money. I also know the government, regardless of which one, couldn't run a business if their lives depended on it. Getting gambling started in Alabama will cost a lot of money and if the government has its way, a lot of that money could just be burned, the outcome is the same. I bet if it does go to vote, there will be many counties that will not implement gambling of any type.

So, your evidence of more people being against it than for it is... nothing. By the way your point about the polls and Hillary isn't a very good example, considering she won the popular vote by like 3 million... Its bizarre that nearly 2 years later there are still people that dont know this.

 

[OldPlayer]

“I dread going back into session, if I’m re-elected, knowing that there’s probably going to be fantasy sports, there’s going to be the lottery, there’s going to be sports gambling, the Vegas-type gambling,” said Rich Wingo, a Republican state representative who opposes all those things. “I just feel like we’re going to be inundated with this gambling issue.”

Then don't run for office.

Paraphrased: I dread going back to work to do the job I was elected to do?

And, by the way, what exactly is "Vegas-type gambling?" Uh, gambling?

The legislators are in a bind. While legalizing gambling could bring a lot of money into the state, the majority of the voters don't want it. If the legislators allow gambling, they'll be voted out in the next election. If they put it on a ballot for the voters, it will fail (so why do it? Even voting to get it to ballot could get them unelected). Legalizing gambling also brings the potential of organized crime (who would love to tap into the potential windfall from a state that doesn't know how to protect against organized crime).

Completely and utterly false.

Huge support exists for Alabama gambling vote, pro-gambling group poll shows

And the organized crime thing is probably the most silly thing I've ever read. Ever heard of the Dixie Mafia? Organized crime pops in places that have prohibition, not the other way around.

"...pro-gambling group poll says"

Of course they're going to say that. Organized crime was in Las Vegas and Atlantic City (no prohibition there). If you think the Dixie Mafia is organized crime, you need to research the Cosa Nostra. Plus, there's a reason the Dixie Mafia is based in Biloxi (it's because of the gambling).

Show me another poll... you can't because the people that are against it don't want to poll it... kinda the point.

If you DON'T think the Dixie Mafia is organized crime, you need to research what the term "organized crime" means.

Biloxi, seriously? They didn't freaking legalize gambling until the 1990s. The Dixie Mafia has been around since the 60s. Thanks for proving that point.

And as far as the Mafia goes, they've had influence in Vegas since the 20s. Gambling was legalized in the 30s. Atlantic City/Jersey didn't legalize gambling until the 70s, do we need to say how long the mafia had their foot hold in Jersey? Besides the mafia's biggest racket was also alcohol during prohibition, period and ILLEGAL gambling. They got involved with the legit stuff or awhile before the FBI shut that down.

The Dixie Mafia was based out of Biloxi before gambling was legalized because of all the illegal gambling that was going on. The Dixie Mafia have been known to be involved with moving stolen merchandise, illegal alcohol, and illegal drugs. It is also known for violence, drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms trafficking, extortion, robbery, fraud, and money laundering. The Cosa Nostra Mafia is involved in all of these activities as well as racketeering, gambling, loan sharking, and prostitution. The racketeering can be the most dangerous with casinos as the mob infiltrates the unions and then controls all the personnel operations of a casino. Regardless which mafia it is, they tend to go where there is money to be made and casinos are targets because of the cash nature of the business. The FBI got the mob out of Las Vegas and Atlantic City (allegedly), but there are remnants.

I'm not saying gambling couldn't be good for Alabama. I'm saying that there is still a strong portion of the population that doesn't want it (not even the lottery). It may be changing, but it hasn't changed.

YES... ILLEGAL gambling. That was my ENTIRE point.

Yes, it has changed. You've been shown now TWO polls that show that the majority of Alabamians want it or at the very least for it to get a vote. It's just like beer on Sunday's (or alcohol in general). There is a VERY small number of people that dont want it. They are very loud but they are a minority. The anti gambling people dont want it to be put to a vote because they know what will happen if it does. The politicians dont want it to be put to a vote because they dont want to upset those very loud people and also those certain individuals on certain reservations that like to donate to certain people. That wasn't so subtle because I'm pretty sure it's not even a secret anymore.

Didn't the polls show Hillary was going to win? Your responses make it sound like I'm against it. I'm not. I know the state can use the money. I also know the government, regardless of which one, couldn't run a business if their lives depended on it. Getting gambling started in Alabama will cost a lot of money and if the government has its way, a lot of that money could just be burned, the outcome is the same. I bet if it does go to vote, there will be many counties that will not implement gambling of any type.

So, your evidence of more people being against it than for it is... nothing. By the way your point about the polls and Hillary isn't a very good example, considering she won the popular vote by like 3 million... Its bizarre that nearly 2 years later there are still people that dont know this.

Why are you making this an argument instead of a debate or conversation? The pollsters predicted that Hillary would win the election. She didn't. My "evidence" (of which you have none since the polls you reference are biased) is knowing the non-metro areas of Alabama. Regardless, it's not about who has more evidence since we aren't in court. You have your opinion and I have mine.