Along U.S. Highway 80 between Montgomery and Selma in rural Lowndes County’s White Hall are two of Alabama’s gambling facilities that are often overlooked in discussions about a so-called comprehensive gaming bill that would once and for all settle the legality of the issue.
Gaming facilities, which currently include White Hall Entertainment and Southern Star Entertainment Center in White Hall, have been a part of the Lowndes County economy for nearly two decades, and State Rep. Kelvin Lawrence (D-Hayneville) said it was his hope that they could remain open if an agreement can be reached by the legislature.
During an appearance on this week’s broadcast of APTV’s “Capitol Journal,” Lawrence warned shuttering the two facilities could be a blow to his district’s fragile economy.
“[I] think for once and all, we need to kind of put this gambling issue to bed,” he said. “But in doing so, we need to have equity and parity in this gambling legislation. The last proposed legislation, Lowndes County was left out. That would be a detriment to our community. You have a situation where [gambling] has been a part of the economic viability of Lowndes County for the last 20 years … and I think to just arbitrarily close down a business that has been in operation for more than almost 20 years is a bad thing. So, if we’re going to have gambling, I think we definitely need to look at those facilities that have been operating for quite some time.”
“There are two that are in White Hall,” Lawrence continued. “We’re just asking for parity. I mean, some have said, ‘Well, you know, you’re not going to get both facilities to be open.’ Well, right now, both facilities are going to be closed in the legislation that was proposed. But we’re hoping in continuing talks and trying to plead our case that if gambling is passed, Lowndes County will be included in that as well.”
Lawrence said he was working on lobbying his colleagues to support gaming to remain open in Lowndes County. He said he was “kind of” optimistic about next year being the year for a gaming proposal to find its way through the Alabama Legislature, but acknowledged the fourth year of the quadrennium was traditionally a challenge for significant legislation to be passed by both chambers.
@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor of Breitbart TV, a columnist for Mobile’s Lagniappe Weekly, and host of Mobile’s “The Jeff Poor Show” from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on FM Talk 106.5.
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