5 Illegal Gambling Halls Shut Down in Alabama Raid
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has taken decisive action against illegal gambling operations in Selma. The Attorney General has shut down five gambling halls in the city that were allegedly operating outside the bounds of state law.
The Alabama illegal gambling venues include Joker 777, Mini Bingo, Selma Charity Bingo, Selma Bingo, and Lucky Duck.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The crackdown followed an investigation that revealed these establishments were flouting Alabama's gambling regulations. This prompted Marhsall's office to obtain and enforce temporary restraining orders against the gambling facilities, halting their operations and prohibiting them from processing any financial transactions until further direction from the Circuit Court of Dallas County.
As part of the investigation, Marshall also executed search warrants at each venue, including Joker 777, Mini Bingo, Selma Charity Bingo, Selma Bingo, and Lucky Duck. The establishments are accused of harboring slot machines and other gambling devices to facilitate unlawful gambling activities.
These facilities are operating with complete disregard to Alabama law. I applaud Dallas County Sheriff [Mike] Granthum's dedication to combat this blight, and willingness to invite our team to assist in addressing these criminal enterprises. The law is clear; gambling is illegal in Alabama and the Attorney General's Office will continue to enforce the laws of this state.
The temporary shutdown of the five illegal gambling operations barely scratches the surface of a far more widespread issue of unlicensed gambling in the state. According to the Alabama Political Reporter, state lawmakers who accompanied law enforcement on a tour last year estimated that up to a thousand illegal gambling operations are active in the state. Per reports, many of these illicit activities are cleverly concealed within legitimate businesses like gas stations, salons, and other unsuspecting establishments.
More Regulation News
Lottery and Gaming Bills Stall
While gambling in any form is currently prohibited in Alabama, some lawmakers have persistently sought to change the status quo.
A recent attempt to introduce a comprehensive gaming package, which included a state lottery, fell short when it failed to pass before the state's legislative session concluded in May. As a result, the proposal is now dormant for the remainder of 2024, leaving the state's gambling laws unchanged for another year.
House Bills 151 and 152 proposed a state education lottery, electronic games of chance, raffles, and paper bingo at seven Alabama locations. The bills also would have allowed residents to play national lotteries like Mega Millions and Powerball.
The legislation passed the Alabama House with a decisive 72-29 vote, but a revised version failed to clear the Senate before the session ended, stalling the effort to expand gaming options in the state.
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