Milton McGregor, owner of VictoryLand Casino in Macon County, Alabama, said on WBRC’S morning show, Good Day Alabama, that he will only reopen when his 100-percent satisfied they are ready. He said the facility will provide 2,000 jobs. He added renovations are continuing and he’s negotiating with vendors for the return of some of the 1,600 electronic bingo machines that were taken in a 2013 raid, authorized by state Attorney General Luther Strange. About $260,000 in cash also was seized.
But the return of the machines currently is on hold. In June, Alabama Circuit Judge William Shashy ruled that Macon County voters who approved Amendment 744 in 2003 understood that approving all forms of bingo included electronic bingo. Shashy further ruled that the attorney general’s office was “cherry-picking” when it raided VictoryLand but allowed other casinos to remain open. The case was dismissed and the machines were ordered to be returned by November 16. However, on November 9, the Alabama Supreme Court granted Strange’s request and blocked Shashy’s order to return VictoryLand’s gambling machines. So, for now the state has control of the seized assets until the high court can rule on the attorney general’s appeal.
Meanwhile, Governor Robert Bentley recently signed an executive order that gambling enforcement should be handled by district attorneys and local sheriffs. District Attorney E. Paul Jones and Macon County Sheriff Andre Brunson wrote to Bentley, thanking him for the executive order and outlining plans to inspect electronic bingo machines at VictoryLand, including hiring an independent laboratory to make sure the machines meet Macon County’s “constitutional governing regulations.” Bentley wrote back that the steps outlined by Jones and Brunson would satisfy his office that the gaming machines in Macon County were legal.
Still, Strange recently said the electronic bingo machines held by the state are considered illegal due to the state Supreme Court’s ruling. He noted his office signed agreements with electronic bingo machines preventing VictoryLand and other non-tribal casinos from using the machines. In addition, he has not commented on the letters between Bentley and the county officials.
Comments are being heard, however, from the anti-gambling Alabama Citizens Action Program, an 80-year-old group that calls itself “Alabama’s moral compass” and lobbies the legislature on behalf of the Christian community. As VictoryLand prepares to reopen, the group issued a warning that “Illegal gambling is taking over this state.” Executive Director Dr. Joe Godfrey chastised Bentley for his executive order and stated Alabama gambling laws should be enforced.
