Due to a judgment handed down by the Alabama Supreme Court on Friday morning, gaming at three casinos in the state may soon be forced to cease. According to a recent majority decision by the Alabama Supreme Court, VictoryLand Casino, White Hall Entertainment, and Southern Star Entertainment are all in violation of state law by housing unlawful electronic bingo equipment inside their establishments, thereby creating a “public nuisance.”
The verdict also mandated that within 30 days, the circuit courts in Lowndes and Macon Counties issue injunctions barring the use of electronic bingo machines in casinos.
Electronic bingo will be banned in Macon County until a further court order is issued, as a preliminary injunction against VictoryLand is expected. In contrast, the upcoming injunction in Lowndes County will permanently ban computerized bingo at White Hall and Southern Star.
Some Reactions
In response to the decision, the attorney general, Steve Marshall, called electronic bingo “a misnomer used by the casinos to mean ‘video-slot-machine gambling'” in a statement released Friday afternoon.
“The Alabama Supreme Court’s opinion makes clear what my office has maintained from the start: these gambling enterprises are not only patently illegal under Alabama law, but also a menace to public health, morals, safety, and welfare. Today’s decision will forbid the Southern Star, White Hall, and Victoryland casinos from offering their slot-machine gambling to the public.”
~ Steve Marshall
The Alabama Attorney General’s Office had sought injunctive action against the casinos, which had been refused by the county circuit courts. In 2017, the AG’s office filed two lawsuits against the establishments and other law enforcement and municipal officials, arguing that the failure of prosecution by local criminal enforcement warranted state intervention.
In September of 2016, many parties, including the Attorney General’s office and Governor Kay Ivey, contacted the sheriff of Lowndes County to request an investigation into White Hall Entertainment and Southern Star Entertainment.
This decision continues a battle that has lasted for over a decade in Alabama over the legality of electronic bingo machines. By ruling in 2016 that electronic bingo was not protected by municipal legislation enabling the practice of “charity bingo,” the court aimed to put an end to the debate once and for all.
The Supreme Court’s recent verdict is, we can only hope, the last word on the issue of local law enforcement authorities failing to follow the State’s anti-gambling legislation.
