GOP candidates discuss bingo, gambling

ROBERTSDALE, Ala. (WALA) - Tim James said he's the only businessman in the Republican primary for governor. James said when it comes to the electronic bingo controversy, the courts should settle it.

"The courts need to adjudicate the gambling issue in all jurisdictions once and for all. That puts total credibility on it," James said.

Bradley Byrne is chancellor of Alabama's two-year college system and a former state senator. Byrne said the Constitution already allows electronic bingo in some counties in the state.

"If they make the machines to where they comply with the Supreme Court's decision, then whether I like it or not, that's the law in those counties, and it has to be allowed. What the issue in the state right now is, are those machines really electronic bingo machines, or are they slot machines? And if they're slot machines, they're illegal," said Byrne.

Bill Johnson wanted Alabama voters to decide what to do about gambling in the state.

"I am for letting the people vote to tax and regulate gambling in the state of Alabama. We have $300-500 million of Alabama dollars going to educate children in Mississippi, Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia, and I would like for the citizens to vote as to whether they want to keep some of those dollars to educate our children here," Johnson said.

Roy Moore, a former Supreme Court Justice, said his opinion on gambling is already on the books.

"I wrote the opinion 373 in 2001 which clearly defines Section 65 of the anti-gambling statute, which says when chance predominates over skill, it's always a violation of law, and certainly that was regarding video poker machines, which were taken out, and they simply changed the names of the machines, that's all. So I'm firmly behind the governor's response to the problem," said Moore.

And Robert Bentley, who currently serves in the Alabama House, wanted a statewide vote.

"The only way that we can solve this problem is to have a true yes or no vote, because those of us who are against gambling need a 'No' vote to get gambling out of the state," Bentley said.

All of the candidates we talked with said bingo has overshadowed more important issues in the state. We've posted their comments on some of the other important issues here on our website.