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Alabama Anti-Casino Task Force Ready To Act Pending Injunction

The August 05, 2023, By Christopher F. Wood

The Alabama Governor’s task force is prepared to raid Victoryland casino in Macon Country promptly if a judge lifts a ban on a raid at a hearing on Thursday, the task force commander said.

However, attorneys for Macon County were trying to decide if they should take steps to keep the task force on the sidelines just a little bit longer, as the move was deemed highly unpopular by the electorate.

The commander of the task force, John Tyson said that if Curcuit Judge Tom Young lifts his earlier injunction against a raid, state police officers were ready to enter the casino and confiscate any and all illegal gambling equipment, numbering about 6000 slot machines.

"We've been ready since the last time we were out there," Tyson said.

In January, the task force attempted to raid Victoryland but was blocked by an order from Young, whose jurisdiction includes Macon and several other east Alabama counties. Young on Tuesday afternoon set a hearing Thursday to consider a motion by Tyson to dissolve the order blocking any confiscation of the machines. The task force considers them illegal slot machines.

Young's latest order came in a lawsuit filed by Macon County District Attorney E. Paul Jones, Sheriff David Warren and other county officials who contend Tyson, the district attorney in Mobile County, doesn't have authority to conduct the raid in Macon County without the permission of local officials.

Tyson contends a Supreme Court ruling last week overruled Young's order blocking the task force from raiding Victoryland without permission from local officials. Under court rules, Macon County officials have up to 18 days to ask the Alabama Supreme Court for a rehearing.

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