Unclear bingo regulations and an explosion of gambling facilities in Jefferson County have not deterred District Attorney Brandon Falls from trying to eradicate illegal gambling in the area. His first official action in the fight came in the early morning hours of Aug. 17 when the Alabama Bureau of Investigation (ABI) and Alabama state troopers raided VFW Bingo in Roebuck, seizing nearly 950 machines and more than $400,000.
“I believe it was the largest [electronic bingo gambling hall] in Jefferson County,” Falls said, noting the facility filled a former Goody’s store. “I became aware of it based on phone calls from citizens complaining that they didn’t think it was bingo. They thought it was a casino.”
After a three-week investigation, the state Department of Public Safety, which houses the ABI and state troopers, said it believes the facility’s machines are slot machines. Those are illegal according to Alabama law.
“The city of Birmingham (of which Roebuck is a suburb) recently updated their bingo ordinance, (but) this is based on the issue of whether the machines are illegal gambling devices,” Falls said. “Regardless of whether a municipality passes an ordinance allowing bingo, any operation still has to comply with state laws prohibiting gambling.”
Chad Joiner, public information officer with the state troopers, said the search warrant was served at VFW about 6 a.m. and the 30–40 people at the facility were asked to leave. “This is an ongoing investigation,” he said, noting the machines were taken to an undisclosed location to be investigated.
After the machines were removed, the investigators discovered a disturbing scene.
“The place was filthy,” Falls said. “When the troopers pulled the machines out, what was left between them was drink cups, small paper trays filled with leftover food and plastic bottles. At least two plastic bottles contained urine. It appears that someone was so determined to stay at their machine that they urinated in a plastic bottle.”
While this investigation is conducted, he said his office would be looking into the other 10–15 electronic bingo gambling locations in the county.
David Barber, head of the Governor’s Task Force on Illegal Gambling, believes gambling interests in Jefferson County are trying to intimidate and test Falls by making the area’s gambling problem seem too big to fight. He said they are finding out that can’t be done. (TAB)
Share with others: