Tagged: VictoryLand casino Alabama

The Alabama Supreme Court says the gambling machines seized from VictoryLand casino don't resemble the game of bingo.

The court issued an opinion Friday explaining why it ordered a search warrant for a raid by the attorney general after a Macon County judge refused.

The state attorney general's office used a century-old gambling case to get a rare, but not unprecedented, search warrant to raid VictoryLand casino in Shorter.

Macon County Circuit Judge Tom Young initially refused to give the attorney general a search warrant. Attorney General Luther Strange appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court. He cited an 1899 case where a justice of the peace denied an arrest warrant based on an incorrect interpretation of the law, and the Supreme Court ordered it issued.

Members of Alabama's legislative black caucus are criticizing the state's latest crackdown on the VictoryLand casino at Shorter.

State Rep. Pebblin Warren of Tuskegee says a raid at VictoryLand is unfair to Macon County residents who voted to legalize bingo.

She says it's also unfair that the Poarch Band of Creek Indians continue operating their three casinos when VictoryLand is shutdown.

State Rep. Alvin Holmes of Montgomery says he's worried that people who work at VictoryLand are out of jobs.

Gambling operators say the state is overstepping its bounds by trying to shut down four casinos in Alabama.

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians says the state lacks the power to shut down its three electronic bingo operations in Atmore, Montgomery and Wetumpka.

The state filed suit Tuesday claiming the gambling centers are illegal.

The chairman of an Alabama Beverage Control board panel says it expects to rule within 15 days on the Victoryland casino's request for a liquor license.

The committee concluded an all-day meeting about 5 p.m. Wednesday and committee chairman, Joe Adams, says it will now review mounds of evidence.

Deputy Attorney General Sonny Reagan urged the committee to deny the casino's application. VictoryLand attorney Joe Espy says the machines have been declared legal bingo machines by Macon County Sheriff David Warren, and the license should be granted.

Alabama's liquor control agency is to decide if the newly reopened VictoryLand casino in Shorter will receive a license to sell alcoholic beverages.

The Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board is to meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday on VictoryLand's application for a license.