ATMORE, Ala. (WPMI) Attorney General Luther Strange's office has filed suit against the Poarch Band of Creek Indians to close their casinos in Atmore, Montgomery and Wetumpka.
The case boils down to if the machines at the Windcreek Casino are legal or not. In a prepared statement, the Attorney General called the machines at the Windcreek "unlawful."
The tribe says they use electronic bingo machines legal under federal law. The town of Atmore says back off.
"Thats sovereign property. That's like going after the United States, you cant do it," said Mayor Jim Staff.
"Why is he doing it again? He already tried it twice or three times, I don't know but it hadn't worked. I don't see how it would work now that's not state property," said Staff.
A member of the Poarch Creek Council also made it clear that Alabama's Attorney General was on the wrong track.
"The Department of Justice would have to come in here and defend us. It probably won't just be us the Department of Justice and Bureau of Indian Affairs would be in here," said Keith Martin, a member of the Tribal Council.
The casino and the tribe is looking forward to future growth and more jobs. Right now they're building a new movie theater and bowling ally. For Atmore the Windcreek Casino and the tribes reach means more than 2,500 local jobs.
"People need to go to work. These people with families that got laid off and stuff they can go up there and make a decent salary," said Atmore resident Leola Cunningham.
The tribe says it wants to be a good neighbor. They've donated millions to renovate a local hospital and give more than a million dollars each year to schools in the area.
