GamblingNews
Decatur, Alabama police arrest five after raid on alleged illegal gambling den
Decatur police raided a home on Hoover Avenue SW on October 20, seizing gambling machines, cash and an assault rifle. Five people were arrested on gambling-related and other charges and released on bond.
Police in Decatur, Alabama, have arrested five people after raiding a house suspected of operating as an illegal gambling den. The property is in the 1000 block of Hoover Avenue SW in the southwest of the city. According to the report, officers had received multiple tips over recent months from callers alleging illegal gambling at the address.
On October 20, the Decatur Police Department's Vice/Narcotics Unit, Special Enforcement Team and Special Weapons and Tactical Unit executed a search warrant at the home. Officers found several gambling machines, an undisclosed amount of cash and an assault rifle. All five suspects were charged and released on bond the same day.
The charges differ by individual. Riley Clinkscale and Marilyn Campbell face simple gambling charges. Victoria Ross was charged with simple gambling and second-degree possession of marijuana. Javonne Sears faces charges of promoting gambling and violating a protection order, while Maher Alqassari was charged with promoting gambling.
The case comes against the backdrop of one of the strictest gambling regimes in the United States. Alabama generally prohibits gambling devices, which effectively rules out commercial casinos. Tribal casinos are legal and account for all casino operations in the state. The federally recognized Poarch Band of Creek Indians runs three gaming properties under tribal and federal law. Eight other tribes recognized by the state lack the same federal status and cannot operate casinos under that framework.
Greyhound racing and betting remain legal in Alabama, although no tracks are currently active. Victoryland closed its racing operation in 2011, after shutting its casino a year earlier, leaving the Poarch Band as the state's only casino operator.
Outside operators continue to seek access to the market. VGW, the company behind Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Casino and Global Poker, has stepped up its lobbying in Alabama, including through donations to Sen. Tommy Tuberville's gubernatorial campaign.
Based on reporting by GamblingNews.