Sparks Calls Riley "Out Of Control" After Alabama Gambling Raid

The electronic bingo debate carried on Thursday night in Alabama when Governor Robert Riley's Task Force on Illegal Gambling executed another raid. This time, the target was a new bingo hall in Chickasaw.

The bingo hall had just held its grand opening seven hours earlier, when the Task Force was sent in. Twenty-five machines were confiscated and have been put in storage. Not only was the owner of the bingo hall upset, but Gubernatorial candidate Ron Sparks had a negative reaction as well.

"We have an out of control governor and an egomaniac task force commander killing jobs for working families," said Sparks, "It is time for this madness to stop, to let the legislature work, and then to let the people of Alabama vote. This circus must end now."

Sparks' stance on the gambling issue is helping him pick up support from Alabamians who are extremely upset over the way their governor has handled the issue. Lawmakers have recently introduced a Bill that would allow a public vote to decide the issue.

The founder of MS Land Co. Inc., the company which opened the bingo hall that was raided Thursday, Attorney James Bridges, said he plans on following up with legal action against the Task Force.

"We fully intend to file a civil action in the coming days," said Bridges, noting that he believes the operation of the bingo hall met the specifications laid out about the bingo machines by the Alabama Supreme Court.

February 26, 2010
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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