The survey by the University of South Alabama Polling Group showed 36 percent support gambling that benefits education and 19 percent support gambling whatever the purpose. The total of 55 percent compared with 44 percent who were opposed. The remaining 1 percent were undecided.

Some politicians have suggested the Legislature look at expanding and taxing electronic bingo machines in the session starting Feb. 3. The devices are already available in several Alabama counties. They look like slot machines , but players compete against each other rather than the house.

Keith Nicholls, director of the USA Polling Group, said the survey numbers indicate there is an emerging consensus on gambling in the state.

Legalizing more gambling in the state would require voters to approve a constitutional amendment in a statewide vote.
Gov. Bob Riley in the past has stood against expanding gambling, but Alabama pols are facing a second year of having to cut education spending due to declining taxes.

The legislature and the governor cut the state education budget to about $6 billion this year from $6.7 billion last year. Experts predict it could drop to $5.7 billion.

"It's a serious problem that we don't get any state revenue from bingo," said state Sen. Hank Sanders, (D-Selma).
The Alabama Education Association, one of the state's most influential lobbying groups, has called for a state tax on electronic bingo. The tax would apply to bingo parlours in Macon, Greene, Lowndes and Walker counties, as well as the Country Crossing resort being built in Houston County.

The telephone poll was conducted Jan. 12-14 with 430 adults statewide. It had a sampling error margin of plus or minus five points.

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