Alabama Judge to Decide Whether or Not Slot-like Video Machines are Legal
Scott Vowell, a Circuit Judge in Birmingham, Alabama, is currently on the verge of producing a crucial ruling. The judge must determine whether the most recent venture initiated by prominent gambling operator Milton McGregor is a harmless promotion or an illegal attempt to draw gamblers to play slots. On Tuesday, McGregor's lawyers tried to convince the judge that McGregor should be allowed to operate a new video sweepstakes promotion at his racetrack in Birmingham.
During a hearing, lawyers for McGregor and Innovative Sweepstakes Systems, a video machine manufacturer, reportedly argued that terminals resembling slot machines are a legal promotion encouraging visitors to purchase computer time at the track's new Internet cafe and increase betting on dog races. Under the promotion, customers are awarded 100 free sweepstakes entries for each dollar they invest in computer time. They then use the video machines to read electronic cards that announce whether or not they won.
However, Charlie Waldrep, an attorney for Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale, was reported as saying that McGregor's machines are nothing but illegal slots devices disguised to look like a sweepstakes. The distinction is crucial because, while sweepstakes promoting a certain product are allowed in Alabama, the state's law prohibits lotteries and the operation of casinos. Waldrep also said that McGregor is not really seeking to sell Internet time. McGregor went to court last month after Hale ordered his deputies to confiscate the sweepstakes machines.
