Robert McCollum - candidate for Tallapoosa County Commission - condemns opponents of gambling bill

February 9, 2026 – DADEDVILLE, Ala. - Robert McCollum is running for the Tallapoosa County Commission. The Republican candidate for Commission has taken a very pro-gambling stance, expressing support for a statewide lottery, casino gambling, and legalizing sports books.

State Senator Merika Coleman (D-Pleasant Grove) introduced a gambling bill on Thursday. Senate Bill 257 (SB257). This is a comprehensive gambling bill that would amend the Alabama Constitution to authorize a state lottery, allow casino gambling, legalize sports gambling, and authorize the Governor to negotiate a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. McCollum is a supporter of the legislation.

McCollum released a statement strongly denouncing pastors and other gambling opponents who cite religion as a motivating factor for their opposition to the expansion of gambling on Lake Martin and across the state of Alabama.

"Recent attempts to condemn gambling and state lotteries by selectively quoting the Bible are not acts of moral leadership-they are exercises in creative reading," said McCollum – who is a Christian. "Scripture does not prohibit gambling. It does warn against greed, exploitation, hypocrisy, and performative righteousness. Unfortunately, those verses seem to be missing from the talking points of critics who suddenly become biblical scholars the moment a lottery ticket is involved."

"Invoking religion to shame others while ignoring context, history, and inconvenient teachings is not faith-based reasoning-it's cherry-picking with confidence," concluded McCollum. "Dressing personal discomfort up as divine authority doesn't make the argument stronger; it just makes it louder. If the concern is addiction, predatory systems, or economic harm, let's have that honest conversation. But pretending the Bible issued a cease-and-desist order against scratch-offs is theological fan fiction. Faith deserves better. Public discourse deserves better. And selective morality deserves to be called out."

Since SB257 is a proposed amendment to the Alabama Constitution of 1901, if passed by both Houses of the Legislature it would still have to be voted on by the people of Alabama in the 2026 general election.

McCollum is a Dadeville small business owner who has twice previously run for the Alabama Public Service Commission. He will appear on the Tallapoosa County Republican primary ballot on May 19.

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