Gov. Robert Bentley this afternoon announced he is creating an advisory council on gambling to try to resolve ongoing disagreements over electronic bingo and other issues.

Bentley said the council will present findings and recommendations to him, Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh and House Speaker Mac McCutcheon by January 1.

Bentley said he believes voters must have a say in clarifying gambling laws in Alabama through a proposed constitutional amendment presented by the Legislature.

He did not say what that should include.

The governor also stressed a point he first made last year -- that sheriffs and district attorneys should lead the way on enforcing gambling laws in their counties, as opposed to the state leading enforcement.

The governor said he would not be initiating any raids on casinos using electronic bingo machines.

Today's announcement comes after Bentley and Attorney General Luther Strange sent letters to officials in Lowndes and Macon counties telling them that electronic bingo operations there were illegal.

The letters mentioned VictoryLand in Macon County and White Hall and Southern Star in Lowndes County.

Bentley and Strange asked the sheriffs and district attorneys in those counties to give their plans for enforcing the law by Sept. 30.

On Friday, the governor's office released letters it had received from Lowndes County Sheriff John Williams, Lowndes County District Attorney Charlotte Tesmer and Macon County District Attorney E. Paul Jones.

All three gave reasons they had not taken any action against those operations, including that they lack the staff and resources to investigate bingo operations and they have not received any complaints about them.

Bentley and Strange also sent notices to officials in other counties that have passed constitutional amendments allowing bingo.

Today, Bentley said he had gotten a good response from local officials. He reiterated an executive order issued last year that said sheriffs and district attorneys should be mainly responsible for enforcing the laws.

"Our Executive Order 13 is in place," Bentley said. "We need to give these individuals time to investigate what's going on in their counties. ... They can make the decisions themselves, and we expect them to do that."

Bentley said the advisory council will evaluate state and local laws on gambling and revenues generated by gaming. He said it will examine best practices in other states.

During a special session of the Legislature that ended last month, Bentley urged lawmakers to pass a proposed constitutional amendment allowing voters to decide whether to establish a state lottery to support the state budget.

The legislation failed.

Bentley, who had not pushed a lottery before this year, said today he still does not believe it's the best way to fund government.

But the governor said voters need to have a chance to vote on what forms of gambling to allow, if any.

"I do not believe this issue will ever be solved in the state of Alabama unless one thing occurs, and that is to allow the people of this state to be part of the solution," Bentley said.

"What does that mean? That means that there has to be something put before the people of this state so they can vote on it."

Bentley will appoint seven of the 11 members to the Alabama Advisory Council on Gaming. He named two members today -- newly named Finance Director Clinton Carter and Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs Director Jim Byard.

Of Bentley's other five appointees, one will represent the Alabama Sheriff's Association and one will represent the District Attorney's Association.

McCutcheon and Marsh will each appoint two lawmakers, one Democrat and one Republican.

Bentley said he probably should have appointed the advisory council a few years ago. He said some issues "bubbled up" recently that made him to decide to do it now, including the reopening of VictoryLand casino in Macon County last month.

"I'm not saying that the opening in Macon County was necessarily the reason, but that was part of it, yes," Bentley said.

Bentley said he had not talked to Strange about creating the council. The governor said his office informed the attorney general that he was going to create the council.

This afternoon, Strange issued a statement saying he law is clear on electronic bingo.

"In March of this year, the Alabama Supreme Court issued the latest in a long line of opinions declaring 'electronic bingo' unlawful in Macon County and the entire state of Alabama. 'All that is left,' the Court wrote, 'is for the law of the State to be enforced.'

Strange said those dissatisfied with the law can advocate for changes. But until that happens, local officials must enforce the law, he said.

"My office stands ready to assist Governor Bentley and local law enforcement in making sure Alabama laws are upheld."

Bentley was asked today if it's safe to conclude that he won't initiate any raids on casinos.

"It is safe to say that, yes," he said.

Bentley was asked if he understood the positions of those who say Macon County legalized electronic bingo when it passed a constitutional amendment to allow bingo in 2003.

"Absolutely I see it's understandable, I do," Bentley said. "I know exactly what they're saying.

"It's such a quilt work of local constitutional amendments around the state. And I also know what the Supreme Court has ruled. I know what they have defined.

"So it's a very confusing issue that's not being resolved."

Updated at 4:30 p.m. to add statement from AG Luther Strange, more from Gov. Bentley.