Bessemer bingo halls had until midnight to shut down completely, but now they have until at least January. Bessemer Division D.A. Arthur Green says that's when a judge is expected to rule on the legality of electronic bingo in the Cutoff.
Electronic bingo operations in the Birmingham division of Jefferson County remain closed.
State Senator Scott Beason of Gardendale says the back and forth legal status of eletronic bingo leaves to many legal questions unanswered. He intends to submit a bill asking for a statewide referendum vote to settle the issue once and for all. Beason says the people of Alabama should decide whether or not they want gambling in the state, but whatever they decide would apply to paper bingo and parimutuel betting at dog tracks.
