Alabama: Poarch Band of Creek Indians launches ad campaign in pursuit of gambling expansion

Alabama's Poarch Band of Creek Indians, which owns Wind Creek Casino in Atmore, has advocated for the state's expansion of gambling for years. But the tribe is seemingly ready to ramp up those efforts as this past Sunday it launched a TV ad campaign touting thousands of jobs and millions of dollars.

If successful, the push would add 12,000 jobs and $700 million a year in tax revenue, according to the ad – money that people say in the commercial could be used to improve the state, including for infrastructure, education, health care, and more.

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians has long supported an expansion of gambling, including at Mobile Greyhound Park in Theodore, in which it has a controlling interest. A bill proposed last year in the Alabama House of Representatives would have allowed for five casinos, including one at each of the four racing tracks in the state. However, the legislation failed to pass in the House.

But the Senate sponsor of that bill, Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore), said earlier this year that he was reluctant to give it another shot in the face of comments from House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) casting doubt about gambling proposals this session, as reported by FOX10 News.