VictoryLand lawyer praises Vance ruling in bingo case

By Kim Chandler — The Birmingham News

March 08, 2010, 2:14PM

A lawyer for VictoryLand praised a judge’s decision today that Attorney General Troy King is in charge of Gov. Bob Riley’s Task Force on Illegal Gambling.

“It brings some civility and some sense to a situation that has gotten totally out of control,” VictoryLand lawyer Mark White said.

White said Jefferson County Circuit Judge Robert Vance is correct that King should be in charge of the issue.

“The action of the governor creating a political police force in this state is unprecedented,” White said.

VictoryLand is the state’s largest bingo casino, operating more than 6,000 electronic bingo machines.

A spokesman for the developer of Country Crossing, a Houston County bingo casino, said the business will watch the situation closely. Country Crossing has been closed for more than a month to prevent a raid by the governor’s task force.

“This ruling certainly sheds new light on all electronic bingo cases in the state. We will watch this situation closely and continue to work towards resolutions that allow us to open the doors of Country Crossing,” said Doug Rainer, director of communications for Ronnie Gilley Properties.