In Alabama, state Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the Jefferson County Circuit Court ruled computer systems with software that includes illegal sweepstakes games are considered illegal gambling under Alabama’s anti-gambling laws. The case involved Bid City in Birmingham, which offered gaming machines with software from Blue Streak Bids LLC, operator of Redibids.com. The software includes illegal sweepstakes games and online auctions.
The court also held that all the seized machines will be forfeited to the state and the seized money will go to the state’s general fund.
Marshall also said he has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Blue Streak Bids, ordering the company to stop offering illegal gambling on its website in Alabama. Blue Streak has until September 1 to obey the order.
In a statement, Marshall said, “It is my duty as Attorney General to uphold Alabama law and protect those who may otherwise unwittingly fall prey to this type of illegal activity. I was pleased to work side-by-side with District Attorney Danny Carr and Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale to ensure that those who willingly seek to take advantage of Alabamians and break our laws are held to account.”
Jefferson County District Attorney Pro Tem Carr added, “The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office is determined to protect our citizens from all forms of financial exploitation. Bid City profited by targeting our communities, and misrepresenting their slot-style machines as legal sweepstakes. My office is bound to uphold the law of the state of Alabama, and is dedicated to dismantling all illegal enterprises operating within our jurisdiction. I thank the Jefferson County sheriff’s office for its tireless investigative work, and the attorney general’s office for its assistance in this case.”
