The jury in Alabama’s bingo case began deliberations Friday afternoon and will resume this morning.

Jurors are tasked with deciding whether the nine defendants in the case committed bribery, as prosecutors allege, or simply legal fundraising and lobbying, as defense lawyers contend.

VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor, two state senators and six others are on trial, accused of offering or accepting bribes in connection with a gambling bill before lawmakers in 2010.

The jury, which is sequestered, retired for deliberations at 3:58 p.m. Friday after receiving instructions from U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson.

-Staff Reports