June 1, 2011

Attorney general's office raids 2 west Ala. bingo operations

PRESS RELEASE

Attorney General Luther Strange announced today that search warrants were served at two gambling facilities in Greene County by state agents from the Attorney General’s Office, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, and the Department of Public Safety. 

This law enforcement action was taken in response to potential illegal gambling operations. The warrants were served at Frontier Bingo in Knoxville, Ala., and at Greenetrack in Eutaw.  

“Today’s actions are the culmination of an investigative process over the last several months,” said Strange. “From my first day in office, we have worked hand-in-hand with Gov. Bentley and his staff to ensure that illegal gambling laws are enforced consistently across the state.”   

As a result of the attorney general’s efforts, the country’s largest gambling machine manufacturers removed their machines from Alabama earlier this year.  The Greenetrack facility reopened, however, with machines that state law enforcement agents have determined to be illegal.   

“We have worked to try to resolve this matter with minimal controversy,” said Strange. “We have offered Greenetrack numerous opportunities to resolve this matter by surrendering some of its machines to the state, to allow a court to determine the legality of the machines.  We personally met with Greenetrack representatives and the Greene County Sheriff numerous times to work out arrangements for this solution.  Unfortunately, Greenetrack has simply refused to compromise or discuss this matter in good faith and we have been left with no alternative but to treat this as we would any other law enforcement matter.”   

The search warrants culminated in the seizure of more than 700 machines from Frontier Bingo and Greenetrack. These machines will be held as evidence and will be subject to a forfeiture procedure in Greene County Circuit Court.