Chickasaw Alabama Gets First E-Bingo Raid by the Governor's Task Force

Chickasaw is a town in Mobile County Alabama. Like many towns in Alabama they are seriously seeking additional funds to maintain their viability. So on Thursday February 25, 2010 they announced they would be opening an E-Bingo hall in the Chickasaw Auditorium. John Tyson, the head of the Governor's Task force on Illegal Gambling advised them not to go forward. But, they did. They opened at 1:15 in the afternoon and at 7 PM the Task Force, with Mr. Tyson, raided the hall, confiscating 25 E-Bingo machines.

According to the report appearing in the headlines of the Mobile Press Register on February 26, 2010 Mr. Tyson, along with at least 10 uniformed officers - both state troopers and Alcohol and Beverage Control board agents - entered the auditorium hollering for those at the machines to 'Get up against the wall'. The drivers license and social security numbers of the patrons were taken though no arrests were made.

It is expected that they could be called as witnesses in court should that be needed.

City Councilman Ross Naze had waited outside earlier in the day with patrons who had lined up waiting for the hall to open. Later in the day Mr. Naze called the raid a "travesty of justice."

John Tyson, the highly respected District Attorney of Mobile County who has already stated he will not be running for an additional term, was quoted as saying "How are we going to go about arresting some kid for theft if the city itself is going to lead the way in breaking the law?"

The 25 confiscated machines had a value of about $750,000.00. The venue expects to have about 500 machines when fully operative. Chickasaw expects to have revenue from the hall of over $4M yearly.

In previous article the dangerousness of the situation (www.associatedcontent.com/article/2722913/bingo_in_bamathey_aint_puttin_dibs.html) has been discussed and concern expressed for the health and well being of Alabama citizens who have strong feelings about this issue. Sheriffs from several communities have said they are prepared to deputize citizens to stop these raids. One still has to wonder if anyone will actually be the first to die so that E-Bingo can exist in Alabama.