Alabama Police Forces Raid VFW Hall for Gambling Machines
Alabama's internal war over what constitutes illegal gambling continued as a Veterans of Foreign Wars meeting hall was overrun by police as they confiscated electronic bingo machines. State troopers and agents from the Alabama Bureau of Investigation invaded the VFW lounge in Roebuck, Alabama to grab the machines which Governor Bob Riley has sworn to eradicate from the state.Brandon Falls, the district attorney for Jefferson County, was behind the raid. Falls warned that operators who feel protected by city statutes permitting bingo still have to obey state laws as well.
The electronic bingo games have been an ongoing source of debate in the state. Despite opinions by the Alabama attorney general and state Supreme Court justices that some counties allow the bingo gambling, Riley and his cohorts have insisted they will not stand for gaming.
Rather than follow the plan of lawmakers who wish to use gambling as a revenue source, Riley has spent masses of state money fighting gambling, including instituting an "Untouchables"-style force to roam the state pursuing bingo operators.
Rumors persist that link Riley to Mississippi tribal casinos, whose campaign contributions to his gubernatorial run are hidden from public eyes by Alabama law. Riley denies having any Indian connection, but tribal casinos concerned with potential competition in Alabama have to be thrilled with the governor's performance.
Recent Comments
| Posted by: Tim | When: 08/18/2009 04:55:07 PM EST |
| Ask the Alabama attorney general himself: he will tell you he has issued no opinion on gambling. So you're story inaccurate. | |
| Posted by: Gamer | When: 08/19/2009 07:06:57 AM EST |
| Unfortunately his actions have not even made a dent in the over 20,000 machines currently existing in the state. The Gov needs to get his head out of the sand and create a program that manages the problem and generates revenue for the state and local municipalities to save jobs!!! | |
| Posted by: Willie Roberts | When: 08/20/2009 09:52:53 AM EST |
| Can someone tell me why is it that Greenetrack, Victoryland, Riverside and WindCreek can have those same Machines that look like slot machines, but they are legal even when bingo halls use them in walker county. The VFW move from walker county to Roebuck using the same machines they use in walker county yet there was no raid on them when there were located in walker county. yet evertime they raid a place they said they have violated State law yet you have Greenetrack victoryland windcreek and Riverside has not violated state law, but they use the same machines that the VFW used and are located in the state of Alabama? | |
