"I am often asked about the legality of Indian gambling. Indian gambling represents a special challenge because state police cannot seize machines on Indian land. Instead, certain important aspects of Indian gambling are regulated by a federal agency called the National Indian Gaming Commission.
Over the last two years, I have sent three letters to the Commission, asking it to take action against the Alabama casinos operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. But the Commission has refused. The Poarch Band should not be allowed to have gambling that is illegal under Alabama law. But the Obama Administration says that as long as Alabama allows any bingo at all—even just paper bingo for churches and charities—it will let the Poarch Band operate three, huge, for-profit casinos.
After two years of trying to get the federal government to act, I have been left with no choice but to file a lawsuit to close the Poarch Band's casinos. You should be wary of any so-called "experts" who say this lawsuit is destined to fail. Most of them are mouthpieces for the gambling industry, and Alabama courts have rejected some of these same "expert" opinions before. Many of these "experts" also want this lawsuit to fail because they make money from Indian gambling and Indian tribes."
Get the Story:
Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange: Why I'm fighting illegal gambling, on and off the reservation
(AlLive.com 2/22)
Also Today:
Gambling Law Expert Says AG Has No Case Against Gaming
(WKRG-TV 2/21)
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