VictoryLand gambling machines are legal 'bingo' says Macon County Sheriff
Enlarge Rich Williamson of BMM Test Labs demonstrates a bingo machine at Victoryland Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012, in Shorter, Ala. Victoryland opened its doors to lawyers and officials to test bingo machines and speak to the media. (Julie Bennett / al.com)Officials test bingo machines at Victoryland gallery (21 photos)
Warren said the machines have spinning displays that make them resemble slot machines but that was only "eye candy."
"I accept these machines as legal. How clear can it be that these machines play bingo," Warren said.
The sheriff has the authority to regulate bingo in Macon County and Warren said he requested a testing lab review the machines. They demonstrated the games for members of the media this afternoon as the shuttered casino preps to reopen.
The press conference touting the machines as legal was the prelude to the casino's reopening and what is almost certain to be a legal fight between VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor and the attorney general's office over whether the gambling machines are allowed under state law.
Attorney General Luther Strange in a statement did not comment on the reopening plans but said the legal definition of bingo "does not include the slot machines that previously have been used at VictoryLand."
The games demonstrated today are similar to the more than 5,000 that once filled the bustling casino floor. The machines have whirling displays like slot machines. A game takes about six seconds to play. Rich Williamson of BMM, a gaming certification lab, said the whirling displays are just for entertainment and the "under the hood" analysis shows the games are linked to a computer server and play bingo.
What matters, Williamson said, is a small bingo card displayed on the upper right-hand corner and what is taking place on the computer server.
"The outcome of the game is on the bingo card," Williamson said.
"These games are different from slot machines. ... This is a bingo game," Williamson said.
VictoryLand in Macon County was once the state's largest casino with more than 5,000 electronic bingo machines. McGregor closed the casino in 2010 amid statewide efforts to shut down bingo casinos. The massive facility is now open only for betting on simulcast dog and horse racing
State officials argued the machines were not what was intended by state laws allowing charities to operate bingo games. McGregor and other casino operators said technology allows people to play bingo electronically.
McGregor has not set an official reopening date. Attorney Joe Espy said previously that owner McGregor plans to reopen the casino by the end of the year. The casino's planned reopening was cheered by Warren and other elected officials in Macon County, who have traditionally been supportive of Victoryland, a major employer in the poor county.
"All we want for Christmas is the 2,000 jobs back," Tuskegee Mayor Johnny Ford said.
Strange said his office will continue to enforce the law. "Since I took office, I have worked hard to enforce the Alabama Supreme Court's decisions and to end illegal gambling in an orderly fashion through the court system. I will continue to enforce the rule of law in a consistent manner statewide," Strange said.
A federal jury in March acquitted McGregor and five others of charges that they tried to buy and sell votes for state legislation aimed at helping the casinos stay open.
McGregor's attorney said after the verdict that McGregor, with the trial behind him, was looking forward to reopening VictoryLand.
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