Ruling closes local arcade
By Staff
Jason Cannon, FCT Publisher
The Franklin County District Attorney's interpretation of the state's gambling laws shut down one local video gaming establishment Monday.
The Judy King and Jerry Bradford, owners of Franklin County Arcade, located on Highway 24, sought Franklin DA Joey Rushing's opinion of the state's gaming laws Monday.
Rushing and Alabama Beverage Control agents informed them that their business had to close, effective Monday morning. The couple fully complied with the order to shut down, Rushing said and the machines were removed yesterday.
"The DA's office said that to comply with the law they needed to move the machines out," Franklin County Sheriff Larry Plott said. "They agreed and state and county law enforcement officers were on hand to make sure the machines were removed."
In December, the Alabama Supreme Court overturned a lower court decision that allowed so-called "sweepstakes" machines to operate at the Birmingham Race Course.
The Supreme Court upheld that decision Jan. 19 and many adult arcade operators began closing their doors. The effect of the decision is to make nearly any type of video gambling illegal, whether the payout is in actual cash, prizes or anything of any monetary value.
Rushing said that King and Bradford never intended to operate the business illegally. Rushing met with King several times but until the Supreme Court's ruling last week, it was hard to define the legalities of video gaming.
"Under the ruling, if owners of Franklin County Arcade had not complied with the law, they would have faced charges," Rushing said.
"We are happy this did not happen and we thank them for their compliance to Alabama law."
Plott said the machines moved from Franklin County Arcade appeared to be of the card swiping variety where winners are paid in cash or phone or Internet credits.
And while he didn't have any indication of where the machines would wind up Plott added, "they have to be out of Franklin County."
Plott said law enforcement had prior knowledge of the operation but the owners took appropriate action before local the law had to get too heavily involved.
Melissa Dozier-Cason contributed to this report.
