JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC) – The Attorney General’s Office shut down 10 illegal gaming businesses across Jefferson County including Brighton, Midfield, Lipsomb, Bessemer and unincorporated portions of the county this week, according to court records. It’s estimated law enforcement seized what they describe as nearly 1,000 illegal slot machines.
Midfield Mayor Gary Richardson told WBRC he will recommend to the council that Midfield no longer engage in any form of bingo, noting the city has a paper bingo ordinance. Court records indicate the city of Midfield owns the property where the business, Odds and Evens Bingo, operated and illegal gaming was allegedly played.
“Due to its involvement in both regulating and operating the facility, it receives illegal gambling proceeds as payment for municipal fees and also for the property’s use,” the AG’s complaint cites.
Four businesses were closed by the state in Brighton including Fantasyland Bingo, Joker’s Bingo, Moe’s Charity Bingo and Jaybird Bingo. Jaybird Bingo was operating in a building owned by Brighton Mayor Eddie Cooper, according to a WBRC investigation earlier this year.
At the time of our investigation, Cooper said his city had not issued new bingo licenses but was allowing four charities to keep their licenses to operate while they worked to come into compliance with the state.
Brighton’s city accounts are currently frozen by the state, WBRC is told prosecutors have been in communication with the city regarding their assets.
Many of the cities who have electronic bingo ordinances often rely heavily on revenue from these businesses. In February, Cooper told us his city was working to come into compliance with the state, noting it would be difficult to keep Brighton afloat if the bingo businesses are closed for good.
“At one time had car dealerships, a nice McDonald’s that brought in a lot of good revenue, all those have closed,” Cooper told WBRC in February. ”We have to have something to pay our people, many of them are head of household here.”
The other businesses closed by the state include Presidential Bingo on Chalkville Road, Valley Bingo on Pinson Valley Parkway, Just the Right Time Bingo on Centerpoint Parkway, Moe’s Charity Bingo in Bessemer and Spinners Bingo in Lipscomb.
The issue in most of these cases surrounds whether the electronic gaming devices offer a game of chance or a game of skill. The state calls the seized devices games of chance, which lends to the nature of a slot machine whereas skilled games are legal in the state.
These cases will be heard in court soon, a judge will have the final say on whether they can remain open.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information comes available.
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