Alabama Voices: More than $300M a year would come after $1 billion tribal casino offer

Wednesday 8th January 2020

Perhaps Gerald Dial's effort to master Latin is commendable. We agree with him that "Quid Pro Quo" does mean something for something.

Above the table, we have made an offer to the state of Alabama asking the state to create a regulated casino environment with a state regulatory commission, a market rate for annual casino taxes, and requirement for a multimillion dollar upfront fees for the right to develop a casino on state lands.

We also offer to enter into a compact with the state through which we will pay a share of our revenues from our tribal casinos to the state in return for the right to offer table games at our tribal casinos.

Our offer to generate one billion dollars is the value we are willing to pay for licenses and to develop two casinos on state lands. It includes our estimate of what we would pay from our tribal casinos.

Contrary to Dial's assertion, proceeds from our proposal, if accepted by the state, do not stop after one year. We believe that tax revenues from casino operations could exceed $350 million each year.

In other states with casino gaming, they have not given away the rights for free. Other states charge significant fees for the right to develop casinos. They impose tax rates that generate significant sources of revenue that they then use to provide services to their citizens. They establish state regulatory commissions to assure that casino operations operate above board and offer fair games to casino patrons.

Rather than advocate for this common sense approach to casino gaming for Alabama, Dial and his backers want to divert your attention from what they want. They want give away casinos to antiquated horse and dog tracks without any return to the state.

Gerald Dial and his backers are better served by the Latin phrase "Quid Pro Nihilo" which means something for nothing. Because for too many years Dial and his cronies have tried to give away casinos to their backers with no return to the state of Alabama.

We have made an offer above the table to Alabama that is worth one billion dollars in year one, and that will provide over $30 million per year thereafter.

Mr. Dial, how about you and your backers put on the table (the top) your offer to the people of the state of Alabama.