Alabama Indian tribe launches pro-gambling ad campaign

Amidst uncertainty around whether Alabama lawmakers will introduce any new gambling bills this year, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PCI) is restarting its TV campaign to promote gambling and lottery in the state.

The commercial, Winning for Alabama, says if a gambling bill is passed, it could generate more than $700 million annually for infrastructure, education, healthcare, and public safety issues, while also creating 12,000 employment opportunities.

Legislators have in the last two sessions proposed bills to legalize Alabama casinos, but none have been successful. In 2022, State Senator Greg Albritton introduced a comprehensive gambling package that would have permitted both a state lottery and sports betting. However, Many opposed the controversial set of bills, claiming that it showed favoritism towards certain entities to operate casinos in Alabama

The legislation proposed a constitutional amendment that would have restricted the number of casinos to Victoryland, Birmingham Race Course, Greenetrack, the Mobile Greyhound Park, the three existing Indian casinos, satellite casinos in Houston and Lowndes counties, and a new casino in Jackson or Dekalb county – all of which would be operated by PCI.

The tribe has over the years supported various gambling bills, and has recently released the TV advertisement promoting gambling. The Winning for Alabama commercial shares similarities with the campaign launched by the tribe in 2019.