Alabama’s state attorney general, Steve Marshall, has taken drastic action against the city of Lipscomb by freezing its assets due to allegations of allowing an illegal bingo parlor, Jay’s Charity Bingo, to operate within its borders. This move came after Marshall’s office arrested five individuals connected to the bingo parlor and charged them with third-degree burglary for having stolen bingo terminals that still had evidence stickers from the Alabama Attorney General’s Office.
The situation escalated when the machines seized by the DA’s office in a raid at an illegal bingo parlor in Selma disappeared before a seizure order could be obtained. These stolen machines ended up at Jay’s Charity Bingo, which was shut down during the August raids but later reopened once it obtained the stolen machines.
Marshall’s lawsuit against the city of Lipscomb alleges that the city is responsible for licensing the illegal bingo parlor and continues to receive illegal funding from the gambling activities. The freeze on the city’s assets has resulted in a halt to employee payments and essential services for residents, causing significant disruptions in the small community of 2,086 people.
The legality of electronic bingo machines has been a contentious issue in Alabama, with operators arguing that the machines comply with state laws. However, Marshall has long viewed them as a threat to public health, morals, safety, and welfare. The state’s Supreme Court’s ruling in October 2022 clarified that only traditional bingo games are legal in Alabama, leading Marshall to crack down on illegal gambling activities, including electronic bingo parlors.
The court order freezing Lipscomb’s accounts will remain in effect until a court hearing scheduled for December 2. The situation serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against illegal gambling operations and the consequences that cities and communities may face for permitting such activities to take place within their jurisdictions. The actions taken by Marshall underscore the state’s commitment to upholding the law and protecting residents from the negative impacts of illegal gambling.
