VictoryLand owner hopes to reopen by Christmas
A lawyer for VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor said he hopes to have the casino reopened by Christmas despite a court order allowing the state to keep seized gambling machines. McGregor’s attorney Joe Espy said Wednesday that VictoryLand will have to obtain new bingo machines in order to reopen. However, Espy believes the casino will be able to do that. The state has been in a long-running legal battle over the slot machine-look-alikes. The attorney general’s office seized 1,615 electronic bingo machines and $260,000 during a 2013 raid at VictoryLand. A circuit judge this year ordered the state to return the machines by Nov. 16 saying it was unfair to close the casino if others remained open. The Alabama Supreme Court on Monday stayed the order to return the machines. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Luther Strange welcomes Alabama Supreme Court stay on VictoryLand
The Alabama Supreme Court on Monday issued a stay of Montgomery County Circuit Judge William Shashy’s Oct. 5 ruling that the state does not have to return electronic gaming machines and cash seized from VictoryLand in Macon County. Shashy ruled last month that electronic bingo was legal in Macon County saying the state was “cherry picking” which casinos to prosecute while others remained in business when it shut down VictoryLand casino in a 2013 raid. Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange welcomed Monday’s stay. “I am pleased with the Alabama Supreme Court’s stay of the Circuit Court’s order concerning VictoryLand,” said Attorney General Strange. “The high court’s decision will prevent the release of all illegal electronic bingo machines seized at VictoryLand until the Supreme Court is able to rule on the state’s appeal. It is important that the case be allowed to progress through the entire judicial process so the legality of electronic bingo at VictoryLand can be settled once and for all,” Strange said. The state seized 1,615 electronic bingo machines and $253,105 in cash from VictoryLand on Feb. 19, 2013 claiming the currency and machines are illegal and sought forfeiture of both.
Robert Bentley attempts to clear way for bingo casino to reopen
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley is trying to clear the way for VictoryLand bingo casino and others to reopen. Bentley on Thursday signed an executive order that said local law enforcement should be the primary enforcer of gambling laws. He rescinded the first executive order he gave after taking office in 2011 that directed the responsibility to the attorney general’s office. The decision comes as the attorney general’s office is appealing a judge’s order to return seized machines to VictoryLand by Nov. 16 because other casinos continued to operate. Bentley said the court ruling raised concern about the “unequal enforcement” of Alabama gambling laws. The surprise move is the latest twist in the state’s long running legal battle over the legality of the slot machine look-alikes. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Judge delays ruling on return of VictoryLand machines
A judge in Montgomery is delaying a decision on whether to return more than 1,600 gambling machines seized in a raid at the VictoryLand casino in 2013. Circuit Judge William Shashy told lawyers during a hearing Tuesday he wants to see what happens in other cases and the Legislature before deciding the request by VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor. Al.com reports that McGregor hopes to reopen his Macon County operation soon if he can find a vendor for electronic bingo machines. Shashy ruled in June that the state wrongly seized gambling machines and more than $260,000 in cash from VictoryLand during the raid. McGregor is in in court trying to get everything returned. The state attorney general’s office is trying to block the release of the machines and cash. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
