FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
October 4, 2017
For More Information, contact:
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Steve Marshall
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 2
Alabama Attorney General
AG MARSHALL ANNOUNCES MULTIPLE LAWSUITS TO ENFORCE STATE
LAW BANNING ILLEGAL GAMBLING
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Steve Marshall announced Wednesday the filing of
multiple lawsuits against casinos in five counties that continue to operate illegal slot machines,
as so-called “electronic bingo,” in defiance of state law. The lawsuits call upon local circuit courts
to prohibit the defendants from promoting, operating and transporting so-called “electronic
bingo” machines and slot machines in those counties. The State also filed motions requesting that
the circuit courts grant preliminary injunctions to cease unlawful gambling operations in these
counties while the lawsuits are pending.
The civil lawsuits were filed in Greene, Houston, Lowndes, Macon and Morgan counties against
the operating casinos, machine manufacturers and vendors, and the governmental authorities
responsible for licensing and overseeing electronic bingo operations in those counties.
“It is the responsibility of the Attorney General to ensure that Alabama’s laws are enforced,
including those laws that prohibit illegal gambling,” said Attorney General Steve Marshall.
“Through multiple rulings in recent years, the Alabama Supreme Court has made it abundantly
clear that electronic bingo and the use of slot machines are illegal in all Alabama counties.
Therefore, we have taken action to hold accountable those who defy the laws of our state. These
lawsuits represent a comprehensive legal approach developed by the Attorney General, with the
assistance of the Office’s career experts, to finally put a stop to illegal gambling.”
Since assuming office in February, Attorney General Marshall has continued to assist other
agencies and district attorneys in the enforcement of anti-gambling laws in Alabama. The multi-
county lawsuits filed today are the culmination of ongoing investigations into these casinos and
gambling ventures around the state. The civil complaints call for the closure of the casinos
because the illegal gambling they offer presents legal nuisances in the state.
The State has pursued numerous cases over the past five years to bring clarity and enforcement
to the anti-gambling laws of the state. In each of these cases, the courts of the state have
repeatedly determined that the game of bingo cannot be played on electronic devices, and slot
machines are clearly illegal in the state.
The most significant cases include the following:
- State v. Anchor Club, et al., CV-2011-900213 (Jefferson Co. Circuit Court) – the trial court
granted summary judgment in favor of the State because the devices were illegal slot
machines
501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us Page 2 of 2 - State v. Southern Star, CV-2012-900053 (Lowndes Co. Circuit Court, 2013) – the trial court
granted summary judgment in favor of the State as machines cannot play the game of
bingo in Lowndes County - Ex parte State, 121 So. 3d 337 (Ala. 2013) – the Supreme Court ordered that the Macon
County Circuit Court issue a search warrant for illegal gambling devices at VictoryLand
because the machines did not appear to play bingo and were slot machines - State v. Greenetrack, Inc., 154 So. 3d 940 (Ala. 2014) – the Supreme Court ruled that games
of bingo in Greene County must meet all Cornerstone requirements and a machine cannot
play the entire game, ordered the trial court to issue a search warrant for gambling
machines in Greene County - HEDA v. State, 168 So. 3d 4 (Ala. 2014) – the Supreme Court upheld the Houston County
Circuit Court’s determination that machines do not play the game of bingo - State v. $223,405.86 et al., 203 So. 3d 816 (Ala. 2016) – the Supreme Court found that bingo
cannot be played on machines in Macon County, contrary to the trial court’s ruling and
ordered the condemnation of all seized devices and money from at VictoryLand - State v. $191,249.11 et al., CV-2014-900041 (Greene Co. Circuit Court, 2016) – the trial court
held that the sized devices, records and currency from Frontier Bingo in Greene County
were condemned and forfeited as illegal gambling devices - State v. Choctaw Entertainment Center, et al., CV-2013-903288 (Mobile Co. Circuit Court,
2017) – the trial court held that bingo could not be played on electronic devices in Mobile
County - State v. 825 Electronic Gambling devices, et al., — So. 3d —- (Ala. 2016) – The Supreme Court
held that machines could not be used to play bingo in Greene County and overturned the
trial court’s erroneous ruling - State v. $1,077.00 et al., CV-2016-903396 (Jefferson Co. Circuit Court, 2017) – the trial court
found that the games played at Bid City in Jefferson County were illegal slot machines
and condemned them
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Click links to download October 4, 2017 filings:
Greene County
Houston County
Lowndes County
Macon County
Morgan County
