Attorney General Negotiates Removal Of Alabama Gambling Machines

Attorney General Luther Strange and Governor Robert Bentley have taken a different approach to eliminating electronic bingo gambling machines from Alabama. Instead of attacking the industry, the lawmakers have gone to the source of the machines.

AG Strange has negotiated a deal with three of the biggest gaming machine manufacturers in the country that calls for the manufacturers to remove the machines from Alabama. Bally Technology, Multimedia Games, and Gaming Technology have agreed to remove their machines from VictoryLand, White Hall Entertainment Center, and Country Crossings.

The manufacturers will now have sixty days to remove the machines at the casinos, which have been closed for months. The casinos shut down for fear that former Governor Robert Riley's Task Force on Illegal Gambling were getting set to raid the locations. The owners of VictoryLand and Country Crossing are fighting the closures.

Milton McGregor and Ronnie Gilley are also facing a much stiffer legal battle than just getting their establishments re-opened. The two gaming facility owners have been brought up on charges of bribery. The bribery charges stem from McGregor and Gilley allegedly offering cash to senators in exchange for a positive vote on a gambling bill that came up last year.

Senators and lobbyists have also been indicted in the case, and several of the lobbyists have already pleaded guilty. The gaming owners are planning on fighting their charges, but it is clear whether they win or lose the case, there will be little chance of re-opening their facilities now that the manufacturers are pulling the machines.

Alabama residents have been split on the gaming issue over the past several years. There are those that believe Alabama should continue to support gambling prohibition, and others who think that the state should add a lottery and allow the electronic bingo machine halls.

February 18, 2011
Posted By April Gardner
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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