Vehement Opposition to Legalizing and  Expanding Gambling in Alabama

The proposition of expanding gambling in Alabama through a Constitutional amendment, as outlined in HB 151, has reignited the debate on the role of gambling in our state's economic and social fabric. While proponents tout potential economic benefits, they never outweigh the social destruction and the economic cost associated with legal gambling. Below are the multifaceted reasons why Patriots First vehemently opposes the expansion of gambling in our great state.

Moral Decay

Gambling  expansion is always followed by  addiction, family breakdown, and financial ruin for many. These are facts that are not in dispute. The proponents see these effects as merely collateral damage to enriching the winners they choose and growing government with the revenues that is produced.  While these moral implications unbelievably significant , our opposition transcends  our moral outrage to address the profound economic and governmental ramifications.

Anti-Free Market Principles

The expansion of gambling, as proposed in HB 151, starkly contradicts the principles of a free market economy, which thrives on competition, innovation, and consumer choice. By granting exclusive operating rights to a limited number of establishments and centralizing the oversight under a newly created Alabama Gaming Commission, the state effectively picks winners and losers. This approach not only stifles competition but also enshrines a form of crony capitalism that benefits a select few distorting market dynamics

Expansion of Government and Bureaucracy

The establishment of the Alabama Gaming Commission as outlined in HB 151 represents an unnecessary and unwarranted expansion of government bureaucracy. This new entity, tasked with regulating, taxing, and licensing all lawful gaming activities, adds another layer of government oversight, further entrenching the state's role in the economy. The creation of such a commission not only requires substantial taxpayer funding for its initial operation but also poses significant risks for corruption and misuse of power. History has shown that government-run or regulated monopolies rarely benefit the consumer or the broader economy.

Crony Capitalism at Its Worst

The proposed model for expanding gambling in Alabama epitomizes crony capitalism, where the government, rather than the market, decides the economic winners. This framework creates an environment ripe for political favoritism, where licenses and rights to operate can be granted based on connections rather than competence or consumer demand. Such practices undermine the integrity of our economic system and erode public trust in government institutions.

The expansion of gambling in Alabama, as proposed by HB 151 and HB 152, is fraught with moral, economic, and governmental land mines. Beyond the moral decay it evokes, the proposal is fundamentally anti-free market, promoting a form of crony capitalism that benefits a select few at the expense of the many. It also signifies an unwelcome expansion of government bureaucracy, further entangling the state in the lives of its citizens. Patriots First stands firm in opposition to this proposal, advocating for a return to the principles of free market competition, minimal government intervention, and the preservation of economic integrity and fairness for all Alabamians.