Are Alabama Bingo Machines Legal?

When Attorney General Troy King released his review of gambling in Alabama in 2004, he did not include findings of an investigation by a federal agency that found evidence some machines at major gambling centers failed to meet standards separating legal bingo machines from illegal slot machines.

Nor did he share the findings from the National Indian Gaming Commission with Gov. Bob Riley, whose visit with King to commission officials in Washington had sparked the investigation.

Riley, who only recently learned of the investigation's findings, contends the letter the commission sent King backs up his belief that the thousands of electronic bingo machines that have spread across the state are nothing more than illegal slot machines requiring no skill to play or competitors to play against.

King, however, is largely dismissive of the letter.

For the complete story, please see Charles J. Dean, Kim Chandler, AG Troy King, Gov. Bob Riley spar over bingo report, The Birmingham News, June 28, 2009.