Other Editions:
TNValleyWheels.com
|
TNValleyHomeFinder.com
|
TNValleyJobFinder.com
|
TNValleyStuff.com
|
TNValleyDeals.com
3/20/13
|
2249 views
Feds tell Alabama to back off Indian casinos
MONTGOMERY (AP) — The federal agency that oversees Indian casinos told Alabama's attorney general that tribal casinos can operate electronic games that don't follow the state's definition of bingo.
Attorney General Luther Strange said he disagrees and plans to make his point with a lawsuit he has filed in state court.
Strange has raided and shut down privately run casinos in Alabama, including VictoryLand in Shorter on Feb. 19, and he has encouraged the National Indian Gaming Commission to take action against the Poarch Creek Indians' casinos in Atmore, Wetumpka and Montgomery.
In a letter to the attorney general on March 14, the acting general counsel of the National Indian Gaming Commission, Eric Shepard, wrote that "Indian tribes are not bound by state definitions of the game of bingo when operating on Indian lands."
Alabama permits bingo in some counties, but not slot machines. Strange maintains the "electronic bingo" games advertised by casinos aren't real bingo and are illegal slots. The tribe says its machines are legal bingo and comply with the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
Shepard said that as long as a state permits bingo, regardless of its definition of bingo, a tribe may operate the game as defined by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. He said his commission, not the state, regulates games on Indian lands.
The attorney general wrote back the next day that the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act prohibits tribes from operating slot machines without state approval, and the Creeks' games are a kind of slot machine.
"I disagree that federal law gives the Poarch Band the right to ignore state law in that way, and I expect that my lawsuit against the tribe will determine who is right," Strange said in a statement.
Strange filed suit last month in Elmore County Circuit Court challenging the operation of the three Creek casinos. The Wetumpka casino is located in Elmore County and is being expanded into a resort with a high-rise hotel.
Poarch Band Attorney General Venus McGhee Prince said in a statement the tribe has always been careful to follow the law and Shepard's letter should "end any further discussion on this issue."
The letters between Shepard and Strange were first reported by the Montgomery Advertiser.
Shepard's letter was similar to one that NIGC Chairwoman sent Gov. Robert Bentley in 2011. She said the federal law's definition of bingo may be more expansive than some state laws, and the federal law permits tribes to operate electronic versions of bingo that operate instantly and award cash prizes.
Not registered? Click here
|
E-mail this
|
Print this
|
Photo Galleries
Follow Us On Twitter 
| Decatur Daily | @DecaturDaily |
| High School Sports | @DecaturPreps |
| Living | @DecaturLiving |
| Seth Burkett | @DD_SethBurkett |
| Bill Campbell | @DD_BillCampbell |
| David Elwell | @DD_DavidElwell |
| Deangelo McDaniel | @DD_Deangelo |
| Eric Fleischauer | @DD_Fleischauer |
| Briana Harris | @DD_BrianaHarris |
| Bayne Hughes | @DD_BayneHughes |
| Ben Montgomery | @DD_BMontgomery |
| Cody Muzio | @DD_CodyMuzio |
| Meredith Qualls | @DailyMeredith |
| Mary Sell | @DD_MarySell |
| Ronnie Thomas | @DD_RonnieThomas |
Alerts The Way You Want Them
Sign up for our any or all of our alert services & receive breaking local news, daily updates, sports, weather & more in your inbox or mobile device.
Breaking news, bible quotes, weather, sports, horoscopes, stocks & more sent to your mobile devices.
Receive breaking local news, daily updates, sports, weather & more. Enter your e-mail address below.
Most Read
Most Recent
Most Commented
Poll
Affiliated Websites:
Times Daily
|
Decatur Daily
|
Courier Journal
|
Moulton Advertiser
|
The Redstone Rocket
|
Madison Weekly News
|
American Classifieds
© Copyright 2013 Tennessee Valley Printing Company — all rights reserved. Restricted use only.
Powered By: Creative Circle Advertising Solutions, Inc.
This State is faced with more severe issues than Indian casinos and bingo. Big Luther, how about focusing fighting for something worthwhile like putting prayer and corporal punishment back in our schools, getting rid of illegal aliens, making harsh examples out of criminals to deter future criminal acts? That would be a good place to start.....and B-I-N-G-O was his name-O.
You have taken their entire country not satisfied yet ?
Back off Luther. You have a few more years before the next election. Plenty of time to get the church vote.
Seriously, given the state's history with the Creeks and other Native Americans, maybe Strange could focus his energy into something worthwhile (which doesn't mean beating our kids while reciting the lord's prayer). How about a domestic violence campaign? Or youth gun crimes? Child abuse? Any of those would actually improve the lives of Alabama citizens. But no, the real concern is Indian Bingo. Nothing poses a greater danger to the white southern protestant people of Alabama.
Welcome to Alabama, where the person chosen by Gov Bently to lead the "anti-gambling" effort in Bama, got caught going to Missisippi casinos. These quack heads in Montgomery are such hypocrites.
Maybe people will not realize that Luther is a millionaire special interests lawyer that ran for public office.... and not just vote for someone because they recognize his name from the Governors race 4+ years ago (and didnt know who the other guy was running against him, who was the better candidate, but just not as well known.
Who really cares about this?
idiot............
Everyone knows that gambling on land that the Indian tribes have left is much worse than the METH epidemic!!!!!
Job Killer Luther Strange!
If it cannot be stopped, just legalize gambling casinos in the rest of the state, and start a lottery, too. We could use the jobs and the tax dollars from off-reservation gambling. It makes no sense to have all that money go to the tribes when they don't pay taxes.
Leave the Native Americans alone. Alabama has no authority over Indian casinos. Small compensation for the wrongs we have done and continue to do to the original Americans. Lets not spend millions more of much needed state funds to be told once again that Alabama law is no good. Luther please don't get any stranger than you already are!