Alabama judge rules that video gaming machines are illegal

Thursday, June 1, 2000 | 9:46 a.m.

Jefferson County District Judge Eric Fancher ruled on the legality of the machines Wednesday in deciding whether to dismiss criminal charges against two former employees of Jackpot Bingo in Brighton.

Brenda Anderson and Carolyn Winfield were charged with promoting gambling, a misdemeanor, after police raided Jackpot Bingo last year. Authorities confiscated 56 machines and $22,000 in cash.

Fancher ordered Anderson and Winfield to pay fines of $100 each plus court costs.

However, the judge said Wednesday that the owner of the bingo parlor and manufacturers of the machines should be held liable.

"The real punishment should be meted out somewhere else," he said.

Gambling machines are illegal in Alabama, but an amendment to the state law designed to allow children's games exempts machines that pay out tokens or coupons valued at $5 or less.

Fancher ruled that the 1996 amendment does not cover the bingo parlor machines. The Jackpot Bingo machines paid off in $5 gift certificates.

Fancher said exempted machines are found in children's restaurants such as Chuck E. Cheese, and that the Jackpot Bingo machines don't fall under the exemption.

In the last legislative session, a proposal to allow voters to decide whether to allow video gambling at the state's dog tracks died in the Senate.