Police in Decatur, Alabama, busted an alleged gambling den that held numerous gambling devices and even an assault rifle. Five people were arrested and charged with various crimes, ranging from illegal promotion of gambling to possessing marijuana.
Police Raid Results in Five Arrests
Over the past months, police had been receiving multiple signals about a home in southwest Decatur in the 1000 block of Hoover Avenue SW, with callers alleging the house is being used as an illegal gambling den. Finally, on October 20, the Decatur Police Department, its Vice/Narcotics Unit, Special Enforcement Team, and Special Weapons and Tactical Unit executed a search warrant on the property.
The search produced several gambling machines, an undisclosed sum of cash, and even an assault rifle. Five people were arrested during the raid, charged, and released on bond later that day. The suspects and their charges are:
- Riley Clinkscale – simple gambling
- Victoria Ross – simple gambling and second-degree possession of marijuana
- Marilyn Campbell – simple gambling
- Javonne Sears – promoting gambling and violation of a protection order
- Maher Alqassari – promoting gambling
Is Gambling In Alabama Legal?
Alabama has some of the strictest gambling laws in the US. The state generally prohibits gambling devices, effectively restricting the operation of commercial casinos. However, tribal casinos are legal and make up all of the casino operations in the state.
The federally recognized Poarch Band of Creek Indians legally operates three gaming properties in the state under tribal and federal law. Although Alabama recognizes eight other tribes, they do not have the same federally recognized tribal status and therefore cannot operate casinos under the same legal framework.
Greyhound racing and betting is also legal in Alabama, which is somewhat unusual, considering 39 other states have banned the practice. However, there are currently no active greyhound racing tracks in the state after Victoryland closed its in 2011. A year prior, the venue also closed its casino, leaving the Poarch Band of Creek Indians the only casino operator in the state.
However, this hasn’t stopped other casino companies from trying to break through in the state. Recently, VGW, the company behind Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Casino, and Global Poker, has increased its lobbying efforts in Alabama by donating to Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s gubernatorial campaign.