Story Created:
Aug 8, 2012
Story Updated:
Aug 8, 2012
Attorney General Luther Strange talks illegal gambling today. It's the first time he speaks on the issue following an electronic bingo raid at Houston County's Center Stage two weeks ago.
When it comes to electronic bingo, the same question continues to come up. What is legal and what isn't?
"Everybody knows what the rules are. Nobody is surprised. Slot machines are illegal in this state, always have been in all counties," said Attorney General Luther Strange.
Strange says that should serve as a warning to all those who plan to reopen what he calls an illegal operation in their gaming halls. If they do, they will be held accountable. Just two weeks ago Houston County's Center Stage was raided.
"In the Houston County case we sent out a cease and desist letter, probably close to a year ago, and it offered them every opportunity to go into court and they simply ignored it, so our investigators went in determined what was going on there was illegal and proceeded to take that action," said Strange.
So what about Victoryland owner, Milton Mcgregor, who said this shortly after he was acquitted on all conspiracy and bribery charges last March.
"I can assure you we will be open because we have a constitutional amendment approved by 76 percent of the people, and we are entitled to have everything we had before," said Mcgregor.
Strange says not so fast. His message to McGregor?
"He can't operate slot machines. He can't pay people a lot of money, earn millions of dollars for private interests when it's a charitable bingo amendment, and that's consistent with what we said everywhere," said Strange.
Although some counties do have constitutional amendments, he says to comply with the law, the operations have to be for charitable purposes and operated on a nonprofit basis. He also says they must play traditional bingo, but still he admits slot machines around the state continue to pop up.
"The problem with gambling in these counties is that the money involved is so great and the penalties are so minimal," said Strange.
So he says, the only way to combat the problem is to make the penalties harsher.
"Just increase the penalty to a felony and I'm confident that would put an end to this foolishness," said Strange.
Strange says that they have notified the other operations in the state that they believe to be operating illegally, but he didn't specify which ones those are.
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Joe Janka said on Saturday, Aug 18 at 1:34 AM
What are you gonna do Mr. Strange? Take away their good time? Just like those 2600 inmates in your prisons?
99400096Amy M, Nichols - Valley Grande, Alabama said on Thursday, Aug 9 at 9:25 PM
Gambling is a NON-issue. The government has no business telling you how to spend (blow/waste) your money and time. Now if an ACTUAL crime comes from this, there is reason for the law to step in. But unless that crime is a violation of someone's right to life, liberty or property - it's not an actual crime, it's big government overstepping its bounds. Even the Alabama constitution says, "That the s ole object and only legitimate end of government is to protect the citizen in the enjoyment of life, liberty, and property, and when the government assumes other functions it is usurpation and oppression." Both the state of Alabama and the federal government has done nothing BUT usurp and oppress the people of the United States. So basically the government is continuing to harass businesspeople, steal their money and their equipment - theft IS a crime. I'd like him arrested.
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