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Individuals like David Edwards journey to White Hall Entertainment to loosen up and play video games like Keno.

Attorneys grapple over the destiny of Southern Star Entertainment after a Sept. 30 Alabama Supreme Court opinion referred to as “electronic bingo” a type of unlawful playing.

The 2021 United States Census Bureau reported 109 institutions using Lowndes County residents. 

Now, county leaders and residents wait to study if they are going to lose two of these employers as attorneys and courtroom officers grapple with the destiny of three Alabama gaming operations.

White Hall Entertainment and Southern Star Entertainment present jobs for Lowndes County residents and in line with Commissioner Charlie King, Jr., they help communities in different methods, too.

“They have been very diligent in giving to the towns and nonprofit organizations in the county to support them in what they do,” King mentioned. “They’ve made donations to towns like Gordonville and Mosses, and they employ roughly 100 people in the area.”

And whereas some view gaming operations as neighborhood companions, others say they’ve a unfavourable impression on native households.

“We’d like for people not to lose their jobs,” mentioned James Greene, pastor at Lowndesboro Baptist Church. “But gambling has an impact. You’re not going to win at it.”

On Sept. 30, the Alabama Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion within the case of State v. Epic Tech, LLC., ruling that so-called “electronic bingo” supplied at Southern Star, White Hall, and Victoryland are literally a type of unlawful playing often called “video slot machine gambling.”

“The Alabama Supreme Court’s opinion makes clear what my office has maintained from the start: these gambling enterprises are not only patently illegal under Alabama law, but also a menace to public health, morals, safety, and welfare,” mentioned Attorney General Steve Marshall in a current press launch.

Representatives from Southern Star and White Hall declined to remark, however residents who get pleasure from spending time on the institutions, say they hope it stays open.

“It would be bad [if it closes],” declared space resident Lois Timmons. “It would cut out a lot of jobs.”

But in line with Alabama Citizens Action Program President and CEO Greg Davis, playing, like different addictive behaviors, preys on people and households.

“Gambling is a known addictive behavior and also predatory at the same time,” Davis defined. “Gambling violates basic Christian morality and ruins lives and families and is detrimental to society. Any time we can cut access, it’s positive and will make that community safer and more prosperous.”

David Edwards travels from Selma to play Keno at White Hall.

“It gives me time to relax and drink coffee,” Edwards mentioned. “Closing it doesn’t make any sense.”

Commissioner Robert Harris mentioned the county can not afford to lose the leisure facilities.

“We welcome the casinos in our county for different reasons,” Harris mentioned. “One is for employment opportunities. Another is recreation activities for our older people. The residents they employ put money back into the county. The casinos’ closing would impact us economically and impact those individual’s ability to provide a decent home for their family.”

The Supreme Court instructed decrease courts to challenge injunctions inside 30 days barring the operations from providing digital bingo machines.

So far, no injunctions have been filed.

The Montgomery Advertiser reported Sunday that on Oct. 14, gaming middle attorneys submitted a request for rehearing within the Supreme Court, however the courtroom has not but responded with whether or not the request shall be granted.