FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
April 4, 2012
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Alabama Attorney General
Suzanne Webb (334) 242-7351
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AG ANNOUNCES HOUSE JUDICIARY APPROVES ANTI-GAMBLING BILL
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Luther Strange announced that the
Judiciary Committee of the Alabama House of Representatives has approved House Bill
414, legislation advocated by the Attorney General to fight illegal gambling.
“I am pleased that the House Judiciary Committee has taken action on our
recommendations to make Alabama’s gambling laws stronger and more effective,” said
Attorney General Strange. “I want to thank Representatives Allen Farley and Paul
DeMarco for their leadership in moving this bill forward, and I urge members of the
House of Representatives and the Senate to pass this bill as soon as possible. This is my
top legislative priority.”
Under current law, the maximum penalty for any illegal gambling enterprise is a
misdemeanor, regardless of how many millions of dollars are being made from the
illegal activity. The legislation advocated by Attorney General Strange makes the
following improvements to the law:
The maximum penalties for the crimes of promoting unlawful gambling and the
crime of conspiracy to promote unlawful gambling will be increased from class
A misdemeanors to class C felonies. This would deter large-scale illegal
gambling enterprises and also restore the punishment ranges to their original
form when the Legislature first passed these statutes in 1977.
The maximum penalty for the crime of possessing 10 or more slot machines will
be increased from a class A misdemeanor to a class C felony.
Law enforcement will also have the authority to seize and condemn real
property that is being used for purposes of illegal gambling involving the use of
10 or more slot machines. After a trial in circuit court, the property would be
sold and proceeds would go to the law enforcement agencies that seized the
property.
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501 Washington Avenue Montgomery, AL 36104 (334) 242-7300
www.ago.alabama.gov
