Alabama to ban bingo?

The Alabama Attorney General has asked the Alabama Supreme Court to delay or stop the introduction of electronic bingo in the state,

An Etowah County Circuit Court ruling on October 17 allowed a $200 million bingo development to go ahead which proponents say will create 1,000 jobs,

Two developers, Coosa Entertainment Group and CBS Supply, are shortlisted for the project. The County Commission said in a press release they found King’s action “difficult to understand,” given the severe economic conditions facing the country, state and county.

Troy King, the Attorney General, is asking that his office join an appeal filed by the Etowah Baptist Association which claims the project should not be permitted to go ahead because the Attorney General was not properly notified about the issuance of a charitable bingo permit.

Chris Bence, chief of staff for Troy King, said the Attorney General was acting only out of a desire to clarify the legality of bingo within Alabama. [King has] “absolutely no interest for or against this proposed development,” he said. “His only interest is that if it is going to be done, it is done legally.”