A person sits at the slot machines on the casino floor at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino on May 25, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. Attempts to address Alabama’s gambling laws have died in the Legislature. (Octavio Jones/Getty Images)
A company owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians Monday announced that it plans to buy Birmingham Racecourse, currently owned by the family that owns VictoryLand in Macon County.
The Racecourse, which offers historic horse racing games and dog and horse race betting, has long been considered a candidate for a casino if Alabama ever legalizes that type of gambling. Lewis Benefield, president of the Birmingham Racecourse and Victoryland, said in a statement that the McGregor family, who own the property, had struggled with a patchwork of laws and enforcement on gambling.
“The people of Birmingham desire the same types of entertainment offered at other facilities in and around Alabama,” Benefield said. “Unfortunately, differing state laws and enforcement actions regarding gaming have limited our ability to compete effectively. The McGregor family will now focus their efforts on Victoryland in Macon County and advocate for unified gaming legislation in Alabama which would capture much-needed revenue for the people of Alabama.”
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The statement did not disclose the sale price.
Alabama’s constitution bans lotteries and games of chance, though parimutuel betting — or bets on horse and dog races — is allowed. Local amendments in the past have allowed some gambling, such as electronic bingo, but the Alabama Supreme Court has read the amendments narrowly and thrown the legal existence of those gaming facilities in jeopardy.
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians, a federally-recognized tribe, operates under federal law and can legally offer electronic bingo but not slot machines or traditional table games, which would require a compact with the state government.
Legislative efforts to legalize a lottery and limited casino gambling over the last quarter century have failed. An attempt to offer a “comprehensive” gambling package including a lottery and some casino-type gaming collapsed last session after the Senate significantly limited the legislation first passed by the House of Representatives.
The release said the sale to Wind Creek Hospitality, owned by PCI, is expected to be finalized by early 2025. Wind Creek said that parimutuel and historical horse racing games will continued to be offered in operation and at the facility.
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