A former state senator leading an advertising campaign critical of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians says the people paying for the ads want to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions.
The Poarch Creeks say the ads are built on "lies and misinformation."
Former state Sen. Gerald Dial of Lineville is executive director of Poarch Creek Accountability Now, which is running ads (including an ad on AL.com) and a website that criticize the tribe because it does not pay state taxes on casino profits, contributes heavily to Alabama political candidates, and owns tax-paying ventures in other states.
Dial said the Poarch Creeks are partly to blame for the failure of proposals in the Alabama Legislature that would allow voters to decide whether to have a state lottery. Dial said that’s an important message, regardless of who’s paying for it.
“The problem is not who’s funding it,” Dial said. “Y’all want to make it a problem of who’s funding it. The problem is what’s happening in Alabama and the fact that they’re taking our money created from our gambling facilities and investing in other states and paying taxes and helping schools and roads in other states but they’re not willing to sit down and compromise on doing some kind of issue that would help us resolve the whole issue and pay some state taxes.”
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians said in response that the tribe has invested more than $1 billion in its hotels and electronic bingo casinos in Atmore, Wetumpka, and Montgomery, and will pour $350 million into OWA, a water park resort in Baldwin County. The Poarch Band is a federally recognized tribe, operates the casinos under federal authority and is not required to pay state taxes on the casino proceeds.
“Unfortunately, there is now an organized effort by entities that do not share our commitment to be good corporate citizens to undermine our well-regulated enterprises and our good works,” the Poarch Band said in a statement. “We cannot begin to understand their motivation for spending funds on a website and paid advertising built on lies and misinformation. We would suggest they consider refocusing their attention on making Alabama a better place to work and live for all of us who love our State.”
The tribe says it has long been willing to work with Alabama governors on gambling compacts that could boost state revenues. The Poarch Band would need a compact with the governor to offer a full assortment of casino games like blackjack and roulette.
“Most recently, we have proposed detailed plans that include us working with the State to provide more than a billion dollars in new revenues to Alabama,” the PBCI said.
Gov. Kay Ivey’s press secretary said Ivey has not had formal discussions with the Poarch Creeks.
“At this point, Governor Ivey has not reached a firm stance on this, nor has she been presented with any viable options,” Maiola said.
Dial noted that Alabama is now surrounded by lottery states. The new Mississippi lottery will begin selling tickets in November. Dial, a member of the board of trustees at Troy University, said Alabama’s lack of a lottery-funded scholarship program keeps some students out of college.
“It just continues to bother me and I said somebody needs to bring to the attention that all the factors need to come together and let’s pass something that will help the state of Alabama,” Dial said.
Alabama voters haven’t had a chance to vote on a lottery since rejecting Gov. Don Siegelman’s plan in 1999. Lawmakers propose lottery bills every year but most die quietly. The Senate passed a lottery bill this year but it died in the House.
A key point of disagreement has been whether a lottery should include electronic lottery machines in counties that have passed constitutional amendments for greyhound tracks and bingo halls.
The Poarch Creeks have said they do not oppose a traditional lottery but oppose lottery machines at the tracks. Lawmakers representing the counties with the tracks and bingo halls won’t support a lottery without the machines.
That disagreement and other factors have kept lottery bills from mustering the three-fifths approval required to pass both the House and Senate.
Dial said the goal should be an agreement where the state can receive revenue from the Poarch Creeks’ casinos and the facilities in six counties that have constitutional amendments for gambling -- Jefferson, Mobile, Houston, Macon, Greene, and Lowndes.
“Create a gambling commission in this state and put a tax on them and make sure they’re all operating legally and within the scope of what the law says,” Dial said.
Dial said he’s not receiving any money for his participation in the ad campaign.
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians has given $1.3 million to political candidates and political action committees since Jan. 1, 2018, according to records on the Secretary of State’s website.
In May, the Poarch Creeks announced the tribe’s Wind Creek Hospitality would buy Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, Pa., for $1.3 billion.
“The Poarch Band of Creek Indians’ local successes have made it possible for us to expand and invest into other markets across the country and internationally,” the tribe said in their statement. “We have and will continue to look for ways both gaming and non-gaming to invest in Alabama.”