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Brought to you by Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange says the state’s gambling task force cannot keep illegal gaming operations closed and will be asking the Legislature to stiffen penalties. The Associated Press reports that Strange was in Hoover on Monday saying that profits for “fly-by-night” gambling operations far outweigh penalties, which can include seizure of machines deemed illegal along with misdemeanor charges.
Strange spoke with House and Senate judiciary committees in Hoover on Monday about his goals for the task force. He plans to ask the newest session of the Legislature in February to make the penalty a felony which can carry up to 10 years in prison.
Strange said it is unfortunate that "there are enough people in the Legislature who have enough interest in maintaining facilities in their jurisdictions that they are not interested in increasing the penalties.” According to the AP report, Strange has made two unsuccessful attempts since 2011 to make penalties harsher.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Republican Cam Ward of Alabaster said some legislators want the state courts to issue a definitive ruling on what constitutes an illegal machine before they change any penalties.
Attorney General Luther Strange has been over the governor’s gambling task force since 2011. Since then, Strange has organized raids on gambling halls, including Center Stage in Dothan and Southern Star in White Hall. The operators maintained they had legal electronic bingo, but Strange labeled them illegal.
Center Stage opened in what used to be Country Crossing casino, which was forced to close in 2010. Southern Star opened after a nearby casino, White Hall Entertainment Center, was raided and closed.
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Keywords: Alabama attorney general luther strange gambling task force white hall entertainment southern star country crossing casino electronic bingo gaming
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