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Illegal Casino Sweepstake Loophole
The Tuscaloosa City council is at odds
with the Police department as to whether or not the sweepstakes
games at a local establishment are in fact against the law. Al's
is a haunt in Tuscaloosa that resembles a poor man's Las Vegas
casino.
The City council has voted that
sweepstakes games, like the machines in Al's, have been declared
completely legal. It would seem the dispute over the legalization
of online casino sites isn't the only legal gambling dispute
that is wrought with ambiguity.
The real clout in the councils claims
comes in the method with which the games are played. Unlike a
traditional casino slot machine, there is no physical money
actually used in the transaction. Tokens are not even substituted
for the monetary value that is purchased. Rather, patrons of Al's
buy a phone card for a certain amount.
The games do have a pay off however.
When costumers want to cash in their "winnings" they merely return
their card for cash value or use the phone card for its proper
purpose. This of course raises some eyebrows on the faces of
members of the Tuscaloosa police department. The games clearly are
setup in a extremely similar format to all other casino gaming
devices. To the police department there is no question as to
whether or not the entertainment provided in Al's is in fact
illegal.
It is long shot that the City Councils
ruling will not be overturned by the Alabama Supreme Court. Even
patrons who frequent Al's describe it as a gambling casino.
Currently the police department can take no action given the
prevailing policies in the City. Al's operation will stay open for
costumers until the Supreme Court in Alabama decides otherwise
-Current
Online Casino News-
-August
News-
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