Per a recent report, an Alabama casino is looking at levying racial discrimination allegations against the Supreme Court following a recent ruling. According to the article, the Alabama Supreme Court on September 30 issued its decision on two appeals that could result in the electronic bingo casinos in Lowndes and Macon counties being forced to close. The high court ruled that lower circuit courts were wrong in siding with the casinos over the state in regard to Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall’s (R) legal contention. Marshall said that the electronic bingo venues are operating unlawfully.
In this report, SBS will go over the latest news coming out of Alabama and also some more thoughts about wagering in the state.
Per one report, the state’s highest court overturned previous opinions that concluded that the Southern Star Entertainment Center, White Hall Entertainment, and Victoryland casinos are legal businesses. The Alabama Supreme Court reached the conclusion that the electronic bingo machines violate state gaming laws and are a “public nuisance.” Per one article, attorneys for the three casinos, as well as legal teams representing the counties, are asking the Alabama Supreme Court to reconsider the ruling.
According to sources, in petitions seeking a rehearing, a lawyer for one of the casinos contends that the court decision is yet another blow to impoverished communities and another example of unequal treatment of blacks in the southern state. Lowndes and Macon counties are among the poorest counties in Alabama. Three in four Lowndes County residents are black, while eight in 10 people are black in Macon.
For regular readers of this space, many of you know that overall gambling in Alabama is still illegal. Notable exceptions are small charitable games of chance that certain nonprofits are allowed to run, and Class I and II Indian gaming on sovereign lands owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, the state’s only federally recognized tribe. Through its gaming subsidiary, Wind Creek Hospitality, the tribe owns and operates three electronic bingo casinos in the state, as permitted under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). Wind Creek Atmore, Wind Creek Montgomery, and Wind Creek Wetumpka collectively house nearly 6,000 electronic bingo devices that closely mimic Las Vegas slot machines.
Lowndes and Macon counties, seeking to generate economic development, new jobs, and new tax revenue, passed local referendums many years ago. Those laws designated electronic bingo terminals as permissible forms of charitable gaming. The three casinos direct their gross gaming proceeds to Alabama-based charities and nonprofits. While the casinos remain open, the Alabama Supreme Court in its e-bingo decision instructed their lower circuit courts to issue the casinos cease and desist orders within 30 days. The circuit orders are to instruct the casinos to close within an additional 30 days, which would be November 29, at the latest. The casinos remain open for business despite their legally ordered closures.
Once you are all caught up regarding the recent news out of the Cotton State, make sure to also tap into all the other fantastic resources that SBS has in store for you. Of course, the best page to have bookmarked on this topic is our sports betting in Alabama guide which goes over all kinds of Alabama sports action. If you are interested in more high-stakes wagering, the SBS VIP sports betting sites rundown is a great page to see all the perks of VIP sports wagering. Finally, for those on the go, our best betting apps overview has you covered with all kinds of notes on mobile wagering so you never miss out.
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 in the Mountain West Conference, and basketball. 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.
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