The Poarch Band of Creek Indians has launched a public awareness campaign focused on communicating details of its plans for gaming in Alabama. The project is designed to generate billions of dollars in new revenues to the state, create thousands of new jobs, and regulate and tax gaming interests it said.
It also calls for the construction of two deluxe tourist resorts in the northern part of the state, and supports citizens’ rights to vote on gaming issues, including whether Alabama should also have the kind of traditional lottery that other neighboring states have in place.
Stephanie Bryan, Poarch Tribal Chair and CEO, commented: “We have long believed that the economic power of gaming should be strategically harnessed to create opportunities for everyone who lives in Alabama. This plan does that, and we are committed to making sure that our positions on gaming and our commitment to helping improve the quality of life in Alabama are clear.”
The Tribe’s awareness drive is in direct response to what it claimed to be a public misinformation campaign conducted in recent weeks funded, it said, by an anonymous group.
“The sole purpose of that group’s work was to misrepresent the Tribe’s position on gaming in the state, confuse the issues surrounding gaming regulation and taxation, and damage Poarch’s reputation,” it noted, adding: “By contrast, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians made the decision to state publicly what they propose in the way of a solid, comprehensive plan for gaming in the State through a public awareness campaign that includes a gaming policy-focused website www.winningforalabama.com.
The website gives citizens a platform to voice their opinions on specific gaming issues. It also provides opportunities for communities across Alabama to alert the Tribe and other state leaders about their critical needs.
“We hope that the information we are making available will prompt both citizens and our state’s legislators to seriously consider a solid plan for gaming that can have real economic benefits for Alabama,” said Bryan. “We believe that it is important everyone in the state has access to honest information and constructive ideas so they can make the best decisions about an issue that is critically important to Alabama’s economic well-being and quality of life.”
