End of Electronic Bingo in Macon County After Marshall's Court Decision
Attorney General Marshall Secures Permanent Injunction Against Electronic Bingo Machines in Macon County
In a major victory for Attorney General Steve Marshall’s ongoing campaign against illegal gambling, the 5th Judicial Circuit has granted his request to permanently halt the operation of electronic bingo machines at Victoryland, once a prominent casino in Macon County. The court ruling also extends the injunction to Epic Tech, Inc. (the machine maker), K.C. Economic Development, LLC (the transporter), and Macon County Sheriff Andre Brunson, all co-defendants in the case.
The court’s decision unequivocally prohibits these entities from engaging in electronic bingo activities in Macon County, receiving any proceeds from electronic bingo machines, transporting or providing additional machines to the county, and issuing bingo licenses or permits for electronic bingo play in Macon County.
Marshall’s Strategy to Permanently Eliminate Illegal Gambling
Attorney General Marshall hails the court ruling as a significant milestone in his long-term strategy to eradicate illegal gambling in Alabama. Unlike previous instances where casinos simply recalibrated their machines and reopened after raids, Marshall aims to establish a permanent solution.
“Electronic bingo machines blatantly violate state law, as consistently reaffirmed by the Alabama Supreme Court,” Marshall emphasized in a statement. “Similar to the facilities in Morgan, Houston, and Lowndes Counties, the Macon County establishments are permanently prohibited from utilizing electronic bingo machines going forward.”
Victoryland’s Compliance and Consequences
Victoryland owner Lewis Benefield announced earlier this year that the facility would cease offering electronic bingo following a Supreme Court ruling. Notably, Milton McGregor, the founder of Victoryland and Benefield’s father-in-law, had vigorously fought legal battles to keep the casino operational, even winning acquittal in a high-profile federal bribery case in 2010 before his passing in 2018.
Benefield stated to Al.com, “I’m not going to do what maybe some people have done in the past and say, ‘Hey, screw it. We’re going to still offer it.’ I’m not going to offer electronic bingo… I’m fully running the thing within the law and what the law allows me to do.”
However, Benefield acknowledged that the discontinuation of electronic bingo has resulted in significant job losses at the facility, affecting hundreds of employees.
