Center Stage Déjà Vu

The Alabama Attorney General’s Office reportedly issued a cease and desist order July 29 to officials at Center Stage Alabama, the former Country Crossing development, regarding its computerized bingo machines.

The entertainment complex in Dothan, Ala., reopened July 1 under new ownership with more than 500 new machines that officials claimed are “traditional paperless bingo” and thus compliant with state law, not the illegal version of the machines.

However, state law says the only legal bingo game is the traditional version using cards and announcing numbers one by one.

Houston Country Commission Chairman Mark Culver told the Dothan Eagle the county will continue to work with the AG’s office on the issue and follow the law.

“It’s always been our position that if anything is judged in a court of law to be illegal we will take appropriate steps to revoke permits,” Culver said.

Country Crossing shut down in January 2010 amid several threats of state anti-gambling task force raids to remove allegedly illegal electronic bingo machines on the premises.

Meanwhile, former Country Crossing developer Ronnie Gilley recently testified for the prosecution under a plea deal in his ongoing corruption and bribery trial. Also under fire are current and former legislators and VictoryLand casino owner Milton McGregor. Each is accused of trying to bribe legislators to back a bill that would make electronic bingo machines legal in the state.

The judge in the case tossed out Aug. 1 a bribery charge against McGregor and one against Victory Land lobbyist Bob Geddie because of lack of evidence but the rest of of the charges against all nine defendants remain.

Closing statements in the case are scheduled for Aug. 3.