FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
March 25, 2019
For media inquiries only, contact:
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Steve Marshall
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 1
Alabama Attorney General
Attorney General Steve Marshall Commends Walker County Sheriff and District
Attorney for Enforcing Alabama’s Gambling Law
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Steve Marshall commended Walker County
Sheriff Nick Smith and Walker County District Attorney Bill Adair for taking swift
action to close newly-established illegal electronic bingo halls in Walker County.
“Alabama law is crystal clear,” said Attorney General Marshall. “Electronic bingo and
coin slot machines are illegal. No matter what the operators of these unlawful
enterprises claim, the Alabama Supreme Court has definitively and repeatedly ruled
that electronic bingo and coin slot machines are illegal gaming devices. There is no
debate, there is no ambiguity. As the Supreme Court stated on March 31, 2016, all that
is left to do is to enforce the law.
“I wish to personally commend Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith and his department,
as well as Walker County District Attorney Bill Adair, for taking swift and decisive
action to close illegal bingo parlors under their jurisdiction. As sworn law enforcement
officers, our first duty is to enforce the law. When illegal activity is unchallenged and
allowed to thrive, our state’s entire legal system is undermined.
“Should local agencies in other jurisdictions fail to enforce State laws on gambling, my
office will take action as needed to hold the perpetrators accountable.”
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
