Tuesday was day two of the electronic bingo hearing to determine whether or not it's legal in Walker County.
The outcome could have a lasting impact on how bingo is played in Alabama.
A Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge is presiding over the case.
At issue is what lawmakers meant by the word "bingo" as it appears in Constitutional Amendment 549 and if it applies to electronic bingo.
It's complicated because "bingo" is not clearly defined in the amdendment and state law generally prohibits legislators from testifying about their intent in passing legislation.
One attorney said that it's because one person can't speak for everyone else that voted on a piece of legislation. They would all have to testify.
So it's up to attorneys and experts to explain what bingo means today and what it meant in 1993.
Monday, an expert for the prosecution testified that electronic bingo differs from traditional bingo in key areas- such as personal interaction and player participation.
Tuesday, defense attorneys brought their own expert to the stand. Jack Saltiel of Eclipse Gaming Systems said fully automated bingo developed over time- as the game adapted to technological innovations, from 16th Century Italy to now.
Saltiel says fully automated electronic bingo has been present in Alabama since about 1989, before the amendment passed. His company developed one of the first computerized electronic bingo consoles- and they had contracts with Poarch Creek tribal gaming facilities from the start.
One of the defense attorneys representing charity bingo interests said prosecutors were focused on drawing distinctions between traditional bingo and electronic bingo.
"I think that's what's attempting to be done, but I think it's been clearly pointed out in there today though that other than the fact that one involves a human being participating more significantly in the process and the other involves a computer doing it, then the basic rules of bingo are being met both electronically and in the traditional old fashioned type bingo," said Herbie Brewer.
"I'm very pleased that we're getting it to court. This has been something that the district attorney and I filed in 2007 we just want answers. We want to know the legality of this and get a decision of whether it's legal or illegal," said Sheriff John Mark Tirey.
The case will resume Thursday morning at nine a.m. in Judge Robert Vance's Court.
