Chickasaw is attempting to become the first city in the state to open a gambling facility that will meet “legal bingo” standards outlined by the Alabama Supreme Court in November 2009.
During the Jan. 26 City Council meeting, city officials were presented with an ordinance “to amend and to restate in its entirety” the electronic bingo gambling ordinance passed in July 2009 and to promulgate the “rules and regulations for the operation of bingo games in the city of Chickasaw.”
The new ordinance, which was drafted and presented by city attorney Jay Minus, will be voted at the council’s next meeting Feb. 9.
Minus and Councilman Adam Bourne told The Alabama Baptist that electronic bingo machines have already been redesigned for Chickasaw to meet the Supreme Court requirements. They described the machines as both “paper-based” and “machine-assisted.”
Minus said the machine calls and covers the numbers on the card — essentially playing the bingo card. To win, the player must press a “bingo” button in an allotted amount of time. A paper card is then printed from the machine, and the player turns in the card to receive the prize money.
Reports indicate the city has a lease agreement with M.S. Land Company, Inc., to operate 500 machines. (TAB)
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