The Poarch Band of Creek Indians has launched efforts to be given expanded gambling options
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians is pushing for expanded gambling options in Alabama, aiming to bring table games and sports betting to their casinos. Currently, the tribe operates gaming resorts in Atmore, Wetumpka, and Montgomery, where visitors can play electronic bingo machines, which function similarly to slot machines. However, popular casino games like blackjack, poker, and roulette remain illegal in the state, forcing many players to take their business elsewhere.
Arthur Mothershed, an executive with the Poarch Creeks, said this limitation puts Alabama at a disadvantage. Many gamblers, he explained, prefer the skill element of table games over the randomness of slot machines. He recalled seeing customers at Wind Creek Casino in Atmore stop by briefly before heading to Mississippi, where they could find the games they wanted.
For Alabama to legalize table games, the state legislature would need to pass a bill, followed by a statewide vote. Last year, lawmakers came close to approving a package that included a state lottery, casinos, and sports betting, but the effort fell short in the Senate by a single vote. Senator Greg Albritton is working on a new version, though he has yet to secure enough support to introduce it.
The Poarch Creeks favor a broad gambling expansion that includes table games, a state lottery, and sports betting. This would allow them to negotiate a revenue-sharing agreement with the state. While the final bill may not include everything they hope for, Mothershed said the tribe is open to compromise, as long as it moves the state closer to allowing more gambling options.
The tribe has also expanded its footprint in Birmingham, purchasing the license to operate the Birmingham Race Course Casino. Plans for a new facility depend on whether lawmakers approve broader gambling legislation in the near future.
