MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A judge has ruled that the state attorney general's office can destroy the gambling machines seized in Alabama's first casino raid in 2009.
Circuit Judge Bob Vance ruled Monday after American Gaming Systems, Eclipse Gaming, Bally Gaming and Nova Gaming said they no longer wanted the machines because they are outdated. Former Gov. Bob Riley's gambling task force seized about 100 machines from White Hall Entertainment Center in Lowndes County on March 19, 2009.
Attorney General Luther Strange had wanted the machines destroyed and for the judge to rule that they are illegal slot machines. But Vance said there was no longer a controversy after the machine manufacturers agreed to drop their ownership interests.
The casino's operators earlier dropped their claim to nearly $550,000 in cash seized during the raid.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
