Former state Rep. Nathan A. Mathis of Alabama is on the road campaigning for a shot at being governor. When he spoke to the crowd at the United Terry Club’s annual reunion, he brought up one of the central issues in Alabama right now – gambling issues.
Mathis said that with live bingo, dog racing, and slot machines in Macon, he is mostly concerned that the state isn’t reaping the benefits of legalizing gambling. Mathis said that it was important for Alabama to allow the tribes to have all casino games, but to pay state taxes on all revenues.

The state of California recently made the opposite decision and refused to allow slot machines in their tribal casinos, causing tribes to use a loophole in the law and bring in bingo machines, from which the state will get no tax benefits. Although Mathis did not discuss the California situation, it is clear that he wants to avoid a similar situation.