A panel that will recommend changes to Alabama's gambling laws has opened its meeting to the public, after the governor's office initially said it would be closed.
The governor's advisory council on gaming voted to open the meeting.
Gov. Robert Bentley created the advisory council to make recommendations ahead of the 2017 legislative session.
Bentley press secretary, Yasamie August, initially said the committee's first meeting on Thursday would be closed to the public because the group isn't subject to the state's Open Meetings Law.
August said the committee voted to open the meeting.
The governor created the panel after his lottery legislation failed amid disagreements over gambling.