State warns all-sports station about gambling ads

maxdemo · Nov 10, 2003

FYI:
Article published Nov 7, 2003
State warns all-sports station about gambling ads

The state attorney general's office has told an sports-talk radio station to quit broadcasting commercials for gambling operations or risk prosecution.

The warning to WJOX-AM in Birmingham, discussed on the air Friday, came from Richard Allen, Attorney General Bill Pryor's chief deputy in Montgomery.

In a letter, Allen told a station official the attorney general's office had received a compact disc of commercials for betting operations that gave Internet sites and telephone numbers broadcast over the air.

"If the ads are discontinued immediately, this office contemplates no further action. This is, however, the second time we have communicated with you about these kinds of activities," Allen wrote.

The station's general manager, Terry Bond, did not immediately return telephone calls seeking comment about the letter, addressed to "Terry Bonds" and dated Oct. 30.

But on-air hosts told listeners Friday they could no longer discuss gambling or betting lines - a frequent topic during college football season - because of action by Pryor.

Promoting gambling is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail and a fine of $2,000. Allen warned that each airing of a commercial would be considered a separate crime.

Link: http://www.gadsdentimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031107/APN/311071052&cachetime=5

TheGeneral+ · Nov 10, 2003

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

maxdemo · Nov 10, 2003

I agree with you.

I love to listen to the radio to hear gambling talk..

Jazz · Nov 10, 2003

True - but General, 'freedom of speech' is not all encompassing, which is why you don't hear the local drug dealer advertising 'Cocaine Madness Daze" on the radio.

maxdemo · Nov 10, 2003

It's kinda amazing that this has not happened sooner. You would think that the government would go after advertisers of off shore books.

PatPatriot · Nov 10, 2003

How did that jingle use to go??..Winston taste good like a...

lander · Nov 10, 2003

This is VERY significant. Radio ads are the only media in Alabama where the books can reach their audience.

Alabama doens't have cable television or computers yet and 98.2% of its residents are illiterate.
This basically cuts off 100% of offshore gambling ads to the Alabama residents.

lander · Nov 10, 2003

In fact, this is a blessing in disguise. I suspect their would be a HUGE problem with referral bonuses if people from the "great state" of Alabama wagered.

Book : "Billy Bob who referred you to LanderSprots?"
BillyBob : "My ma"
Book : "Why does your account have your sister listed as your referrer in your account"
BillyBob : "She done did refer me, sir"
Book : "You can can only have one referrer sir"
BillyBob : "I does only have one referrer"
Book :

SunDevil · Nov 10, 2003

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>

Promoting gambling is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail and a fine of $2,000. Allen warned that each airing of a commercial would be considered a separate crime.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Bummer for all those Indian & Riverboat casino owners that I guess they can't advertise anymore, huh?

Jazz · Nov 10, 2003

And in a related 'oh-so-timely' article, Mr. 'Elitist' Lander

Edwards: Confederacy Dispute Is 'Dangerous'

Sunday, November 09, 2003

WASHINGTON — North Carolina Senator John Edwards (search) says the recent Confederate flag flap ignited by presidential rival Howard Dean (search) is "dangerous" to the Democratic Party.

Edwards told NBC's "Meet the Press" that Dean's comments were not just about the South or about a divisive symbol. "I think it's even bigger than that," said Edwards.

"What voters in this country want is, they want us to treat them with respect, wherever they live, whatever part of the country, whatever their financial condition, who their family is," he said. "It is enormously important for us as a party to not be elite, to not look down on people and talk down to them, but to give them the kind of respect that they're entitled to."

Dean's remark, Edwards said, suggested an "elitism and a condescension ... that's enormously dangerous to us."

Defending his record on guns, Dean recently told a newspaper that he wanted to be "the candidate for guys with Confederate flags (search) in their pickup trucks." He has since apologized.

Edwards, John - (D - NC) Class III
225 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3154
Web Form: edwards.senate.gov/contact.html

lander · Nov 10, 2003

Jazz,
Of course that hypocrite Edwards would say that - he's from North Carolina.

That's like telling me that Al Sharpton supports affirmative-action. Duh, because it helps his supporters. Well, Edwards represents a state of stupid people, so of course he would be against an "elitist" attitude - otherwise people might resent his state's lack of intellect

lander · Nov 10, 2003

Jazz,
I'm not saying this in support of Howard Dean either. I don't particually care for him and his daily emails begging me for campaign contributions.

Jazz · Nov 10, 2003

lol - attaboy, Lander, gotta love a well-thought-out elitist attitude classifying everyone in Alabama as stupid ... for the sake of brevity, would you please post a comprehensive list of countries and states which do not automatically qualify for inclusion on the Lander Losers List (L-cubed for short)?

I thank you

PatPatriot · Nov 10, 2003

Lander I've met those 98% illiterate people from the south your talking about...South Quebec.....eh???

lander · Nov 10, 2003

L*L*L (too lazy to hunt down a cubed char)
-----------------------------------------
Alabama
Arkansas
Mississippi
Texas
Oklahoma
Nebraska
Ohio
Utah
Georgia
Central Florida
North Dakota
South Dakota
Quebec City
Ireland
Wales
New Zealand
Australia

CharlieMaxwell · Nov 10, 2003

I don't understand. They can't TAKE gambling ads, but a radio show can have facts about the betting line and handicapping info????? Does that make any sense?

lander · Nov 10, 2003

West Virginia
Tennessee
Vermont
Wyoming
Indiana
Montana
Wisconsin
Idaho

maxdemo · Nov 10, 2003

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Alabama doens't have cable television or computers yet and 98.2% of its residents are illiterate.
This basically cuts off 100% of offshore gambling ads to the Alabama residents. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>LMFAO
The company I work does alot of biz in AL and I agree with you here. We deal in IT software and AL is one of the lowest number of users that we have. Glad to see I am not the only one who thinks this.

maxdemo · Nov 10, 2003

I guess the cops are thinking motive here...
If you dont talk about gambling then maybe you wont gamble...This has to have some impact on our rights in this country to talk about gambling in an open forum.

Jazz · Nov 10, 2003

Lander: sorry, son, you've just proved you're illiterate - go back and read my original post

"for the sake of brevity, would you please post a comprehensive list of countries and states which do not automatically qualify for inclusion on the Lander Losers List (L-cubed for short)?"

And you posted Alabama - oh, this is sweet