Over in the Cotton State, Alabama gaming representatives are dealing with a confusing new storyline involving confiscated gaming machines. Per a recent article, authorities in Alabama were surprised when illegal electronic bingo machines were impounded during raids on a bingo hall in the city of Selma that went missing. They were even more surprised when the machines turned up at a different gaming venue in a different county. The Alabama Attorney General’s Office has now charged five men with stealing the machines after they were found last week in Jay’s Charity Bingo in the city of Lipscomb, more than 80 miles north of Selma. The terminals, per sources, disappeared from the backroom of Selma Charity Bingo after the Attorney General’s Office conducted a raid last month and served a temporary restraining order on the business.
For this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from the latest gaming news coming from the state of Alabama along with some more thoughts and notes about the region.
Per the article, the machines remained at the Selma venue while authorities waited to obtain a seizure order. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall told a local outlet in the state his agents knew they had found the missing machines when they raided the business in Lipscomb because they still had the evidence stickers on them. “The brazen nature of stealing something that has an evidence sticker on it just shows you how far some of these people will go,” Marshall noted. Moreover, the Attorney General said his office received a report from Dallas County’s Sheriff’s Department, which covers Selma, that the machines were missing. It’s unclear how they were traced to Jay’s Charity Bingo.
Per the article, the businesses are not believed to be connected. It’s likely the thieves realized the machines would be locked up in the shuttered Selma Charity Bingo because they had read about the temporary restraining order in the news. “The vehicle in which we shut these businesses down was through a civil order enjoining the business from operating while we prove through litigation that those in fact are gambling machines,” Marshall told the same news outlet. “In essence, it’s not historic to go in and raid and seize the machines and carry them off,” he also noted.
Court records show that Charles Allen Robinson, 52, Charles Vanderford Jr., 61, Eric Daniel Hurt, 39, Michael Ray, 56, and Willaim Patrick Humphries are all charged with third-degree burglary in the case. Marshall noted it was ironic that suspects are facing a felony charge while the owners of Selma Charity Bingo will only be charged with a misdemeanor.
According to one report, the legality of electronic bingo machines was the cause of legal disputes in Alabama. Operators said the machines conformed to the state’s bingo laws while aping the look and feel of Vegas-style slots. The matter was settled in October 2022, when the state’s Supreme Court determined that only traditional bingo games were legal. Marshall, who had long seen the machines as “a menace to public health, morals, safety, and welfare,” began enforcing the prohibition shortly after. Multiple gaming halls offering illegal gambling were shut down on the same day as the Selma Charity Bingo.
Per another local news report, Marshall has received numerous complaints from citizens in Selma about bingo halls. He says they seized over 200 gaming machines and firearms. “Wouldn’t want to speak to any pending investigation we have, but we do know we are prepared to act when we are able to determine there is an unlawful activity and then be able to move for the appropriate orders.” Noted in the same source, the Alabama Constitution permits the traditional form of bingo, but electronic bingo is not permitted.
There are many bingo halls in Alabama that use electronic bingo which operates illegally. Many of these bingo halls, one source said, are in areas of economic decline. The reason primarily for these locations popping up is because “any form of job creation or economic activity is viewed as a positive for the area.” Bingo halls continue to grow in the state and there have been instances where local law enforcement has let bingo halls continue to operate even against the advice of the Attorney General. Of course, with such a gray area as it relates to bingo halls and gaming establishments, it is interesting to see how gaming continues to function and how it might expand and/or contract depending on the governance of the Attorney General’s office.
After you are all squared away in relation to the latest gaming news coming from the state, make sure to check out the awesome array of information available to you at SBS. Of course, for even more analysis on the topic at hand, make sure to peruse the sports betting in Alabama guide which goes over all of the latest news and notes coming from the state. Moreover, for those on the go, the best betting apps rundown is a must-read page where you can learn more about the nuances of mobile betting sites and how you can always stay on top of the action. Finally, if you are interested in diversifying your deposit and withdrawal options, look no further than the payment methods breakdown where eligible customers can find the best option for them.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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