VictoryLand closes as defense for employees and customers, attorney says
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VictoryLand closes as defense for employees and...
VictoryLand has shut down completely as a response to the 7-2 Supreme Court of Alabama decision to no longer suppress Gov. Bob Riley's illegal gambling raids.VictoryLand has shut down completely as a response to the 7-2 Supreme Court of Alabama decision to no longer suppress Gov. Bob Riley’s illegal gambling raids.
“We will open when we feel like our employees and customers are no longer at risk,“ said Mark White, VictoryLand attorney. “"Mr. McGregor is in agony about what’s happening to his employees.“
Friday is pay day, but White wants employees to know that they can pick up their paychecks at the Macon County Courthouse starting Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Meanwhile, former mayor and state representative Johnny Ford said he won’t stop fighting, even if it means taking the case to the federal courts. Ford originally authored the constitutional amendment that passed in Macon County in 2003 to allow “bingo.“ To Ford, this also means electronic bingo.
Democratic Representative Marcel Black said he wants to get a statewide vote rolling so that the people can decide “once and for all” whether to allow bingo at certain locations. Black said he’s been working on the proposed constitutional amendment for a few years, but it’s not yet passed.
But Riley’s press secretary Todd Stacy said that casinos are an economic minus and “cannibalize local businesses and export wealth out of state.“
Stacy also clarified that it was the Quincy 777 Casino at VictoryLand (the casino that houses the electronic bingo machines) that was law enforcement’s target, not the entire complex.
“The fact of the matter is we can’t pick and choose who has to abide by the law and who doesn’t,“ Stacy added. “The Supreme Court has ruled.“
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Reader Reactions
GOV. RILEY MUST BE GETTING A KICKBACK OFF OF MISSISSIPPI’S GAMBLING RESOURCE TO SHUTDOWN ALABAMA;S GAMBLING SO THAT ALL THOSES PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE FROM OTHER STATES GO TO MISSISSIPPI TO SPEND THERE MONEY. MAKES SENSE TO ME.
If the citizens of Alabama are so concerned about revenue for the state,in keeping the casino’s open;then,Why did they oppose the lottery when it came to a statewide vote? I’m not completely sure, but I think there’s some hypocrisy in there somewhere.
One of the biggest crimes in Alabama are crack & met dealers. There are areas in Opelika that you can’t drive through without drug pushers running up to your car trying to sell you something. This seams like a much bigger issue than a gaming facility. Also, with the loss of taxes from these HUGE businesses the moneys contributed to fight drugs & crime will also take a hit. Much needed tax money comes from these places.
All of the beneficieries (Alabama Power,restaurants etc)of these places also pay tax so it appears that our elected officials cut of thier noses to spite thier faces.
Luckily for Alabama Riley cant run again..He is as good as gone !!!
Riley is the sole owner of ALL the negative impacts to the people and the State - hundreds (thousands?) of people on unemmployment, negative impact of the loss of payroll tax revenues to the State, negative impact to the restaurant, gas station, hotel, food services, janitorial, automobilie dealership, and utility (especially Alabama Power) industries - all to coddle his (Riley’s) personal agenda and son’s law firm. Come on AL legislature - get off the bench!
This casino owner is only concerned about the money he’s losing. not so much the jobs of the people. the jobs are just the price he has to pay to make his money. The reason they picked shorter is because of it’s proximity to the interstate for access to montgomery,atlanta,columbus and the county tax breaks. it’s all business.I know the people need jobs but they will survive believe me.
drinking and driving does more damage,than going to gamble. lets stop all drinking in alabama and save lives
if people didnt want to gamble they would not go there..why now that victoryland has done all this remolding and built a hotel,and paid millions of dollars in permits,taxes,sounds like a money thing,who was it that didnt get paid off to keep it open..
If gambling is ilegal in alabama, how do some churches play bingo..They pay money in hopes to win money in the end???
Ok so them machines have been at Victory Land for some time now..Why when Alabama is broke and the economy is bad honest people trying to work there loose their jobs??
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