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Governor Bob Riley is determined to get gambling out of Alabama.  He sees the Instant Racing terminals recently approved to operate at the Birmingham Race Course as a back handed way of getting slot machines into Alabama.

Attorney General Troy King fundamentally disagrees with Governor Riley on several gambling related issue.  First he does not believe the Instant Racing terminals fall under the same classification as slot machines.  Second he does not believe all gambling devices are illegal in the state.  Games of pure chance, like slot machines, he believes are illegal, but not games that involve a certain amount of skill.

For this reason District Attorney David Barber was selected by Governor Riley to lead the fight against slot machines and other forms of gambling in the state.

“Gambling is presented as a very complex issue,” said Barber.

“It's really not complex at all if you go back and read the constitution, read the court cases, and read the definitions.”

Barber has quite an extensive history in gaming cases.  As District Attorney, Barber lead many cases against video gaming operations.  As a matter of fact it was Barber himself that ended sweepstakes gaming at the Birmingham Race Course in 2006.

As Supernumerary District Attorney, Barber has more power to pursue gaming.  He currently has his sites set on putting an end to charity bingo.

“Bingo is a lottery,” explained Barber.

“Lotteries are illegal! That's why they had to have an amendment to allow a charity to play bingo to raise money for the charity.”

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