MONTOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- An attorney for VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor says he hopes to reopen the closed casino in Shorter before Christmas, and it will definitely reopen before the end of the year.

Attorney Joe Espy said Thursday the wiring and synchronization of some of the 1,200 electronic machines still needs to be completed, and that's why McGregor doesn't have a definite opening date yet. He's hiring 200 to 250 employees.

The casino closed in 2010 under pressure from then-Gov. Bob Riley. Riley contended VictoryLand's machines were illegal slots, but McGregor maintained they were legal electronic bingo.

Espy said the new machines are different from the old ones. They are made by different manufacturers, they don't have handles to pull, and they take an electronic card rather than money.