Riley task force targeting electronic bingo

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley took aim at electronic charitable bingo Monday, appointing a special investigative task force led by a former prosecutor who has been successful in getting some machines declared illegal.

It is not known how the creation of the task force will affect electronic bingo at Country Crossing in Houston County, but the project’s developer said it would be “yet another hurdle to overcome.”

During a press conference Monday afternoon in Montgomery, Riley said he is creating the task force in response to the proliferation of what he said are loopholes that permit electronic gambling machines in some locations. However, Riley said the machines are slot machines disguised as bingo machines.

Citing language in recent state court cases, Riley said he believed judicial precedent precludes the machines from operating in Alabama. He appointed former Jefferson County district attorney David Barber to head the task force. Barber won a case in 2006 in which the Alabama Supreme Court deemed certain video sweepstakes machines illegal in Jefferson County.

Country Crossing developer Ronnie Gilley said he believes state law allows electronic charitable bingo. Houston County is one of 18 counties in Alabama that currently allow charitable bingo.

“We are confident in our position,” Gilley said. “I’m sure there are operations in the state that are operating illegally, but we believe we have certainly done our due diligence in researching the legality of our position.”

Houston County Commission Chairman Mark Culver said the county would not have entered into an agreement to partner with Country Crossing without being on firm legal ground. Two favorable Attorney General opinions concerning electronic bingo at Country Crossing have been issued.

“We did an extensive legal review, including asking for opinions from the highest ranking law enforcement officer in the state, and that’s not the governor,” Culver said.

But Riley’s task force appears to bypass Attorney General Troy King.

“There appears to be a rift between the governor and the Attorney General,” Culver said.

King told the Associated Press Monday that he and the governor agree philosophically, but differ in application.

“We are constrained not by how I would like the law to be, but by how the law is,” King told the AP.

Electronic bingo machines operate at the dog tracks in Macon and Greene counties and at gambling halls in Lowndes and Walker counties. Also, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians operates electronic bingo gambling in Atmore, Wetumpka and Montgomery. Those machines operate under federal supervision rather than state supervision.

Miring the issue is what appears to be vague legal language that defines bingo. Riley said he believes state law bans the machines. King, through legal opinions, has said the machines fit the current legal definition of bingo.

Culver said he believed the matter may eventually be resolved in the courts, or by legislation that further defines charitable bingo.

Gilley said the biggest problem with the governor’s announcement on Monday may be reassuring weary investors.

“When the governor stands out and appoints a special prosecutor on such, it obviously will create some concern,” Gilley added.

Other task force members include representatives from the Alabama Bureau of Investigation and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.