MONTGOMERY – Noting the strange coincidence of illegal casinos at Victoryland and now at White Hall suddenly closing for what officials at both casinos called “computer upgrades,” Governor Bob Riley’s office is calling on both casinos to let the media have access to ensure no evidence is being destroyed or tampered with.

“These casinos claim they are doing nothing more than upgrading their computers. But given their track record of ignoring court orders, it’s hard not to suspect that what’s really happening behind closed doors is a wholesale destruction of evidence or the tampering of evidence. If the casino bosses are truly doing nothing more harmful than upgrading their computers, then we call on them to let the media have access to their facilities. That’s the only way the people of Alabama can have any confidence the casino operators are not doing anything to the evidence,” said Jeff Emerson, communications director for Governor Riley.

STATEMENT FROM SPECIAL PROSECUTOR JOHN TYSON, COMMANDER OF THE TASK FORCE ON ILLEGAL GAMBLING

A sudden wave of “computer upgrades” has caused at least two Alabama slot-machine casinos to close their doors. Both Victoryland and White Hall have suddenly shut down so that these so-called upgrades can be undertaken. The Country Crossing casino has also ceased operations and boarded up its windows.

It defies belief that any such computer upgrades would require the closure of these casinos. Milton McGregor’s lawyer now claims that they have shut down 6,000 slot machines at the Victoryland casino to upgrade a computer system at the restaurant and hotel. The need for such an upgrade is certainly surprising given that the Victoryland hotel only opened three months ago.

While I am happy to see these illegal casinos shut down, I remind all casino operators that Section 13A-10-129 of the Alabama Code makes it a crime to tamper with or remove physical evidence if the person altering or removing the evidence believes that an official proceeding may be instituted. I have made it clear that the Task Force intends to initiate official proceedings against every machine at Country Crossing and Victoryland, and against the operators of those facilities. No one can claim ignorance of that fact.

Anyone who we catch altering illegal gambling equipment or removing illegal gambling equipment presently located at these facilities will be charged with a crime.