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Alabama Supreme Court removes order blocking Victoryland raid
Published Thursday, February 4, 2010
MONTGOMERY (AP) — Alabama Gov. Bob Riley's task force on illegal gambling has won another legal victory.
Task force commander John Tyson said the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in the task force's favor late Thursday afternoon.
The task force had asked the supreme court to remove a judge's order that blocked a raid on the Victoryland casino.
Victoryland, Alabama's largest gambling business, closed its casino Monday night and the rest of its facilities, including its new luxury hotel, restaurants and dog track in Shorter. shortly before the court order was released.
Earlier this week, VictoryLand shut its casino to perform what its lawyer said were upgrades to computers for the food and beverage service. A spokesman said it closed all other parts of the facility Thursday.
The governor contends the electronic bingo machines at Victoryland and other casinos violate Alabama law.
The supreme court said the trial court lacked "subject-matter jurisdiction."
The task force also tried to raid Country Crossing at Dothan last week. The owners immediately the entire complex.
Country Crossing's attorney, Jim Parkman, said Thursday he has advised the owners to keep it closed until they can get a court ruling that their games are legal.
The ruling can be downloaded at https://efile.judicial.state.al.us/displaydocs.cfm?no=210657&event=2UX127KZ6
Comments
Posted by sniper (anonymous) on February 5, 2010 at 9:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
was anyone surprise Riley owns that bunch up there.I don't gamble but for the riley to use the state police to raid these places is because he dosen't like the owners is pure stupid they ain't going to atmore or wetumpka they can't JUST LET THE VOTERS VOTE ON THIS EITHER YES OR NO.
Posted by outlaw11 (anonymous) on February 5, 2010 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Correct, sniper, this whole thing has been a tug-o-war btw Riley and McGregor since it began. If the state would let the voters speak or vote on rewriting the Constitution, then I believe the gambling/machines would be allowed...but, a gaming comission and tax devision would have to be set up to control it...and, the ones appointed would probably be members of the 'special interest' group unless we were allowed to also vote them in. I don't gamble with my what little money I have, but, a lot of people are w/o jobs this morning and a lot of needed tax money is lost today. I say let the majority rule as it was meant to be from the insept of this state.
Posted by gasman (anonymous) on February 5, 2010 at 3:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with you both the other night riley said if there was a meth factory with 60 employees working he would close it i reckon those people @ victoryland and country crossing who has lost their jobs really felt good being compared to drug dealers.McGregor will not fold his tent just because of riley and his flunkies on the supreme court nor should he just let the pepole VOTE.
Posted by AllyAnnon (anonymous) on February 6, 2010 at 12:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Riley is the sole owner of ALL the negative impacts to the people and the State - hundreds (thousands?) of people on unemmployment, negative impact of the loss of payroll tax revenues to the State, negative impact to the restaurant, gas station, hotel, food services, janitorial, automobilie dealership, and utility (especially Alabama Power) industries - all to coddle his (Riley's) personal agenda and son's law firm. Come on AL legislature - get off the bench!
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