Alabama gaming facility shut down after restraining order involving more than 600 illegal slot machines
Published 9:34 am Thursday, November 30, 2023
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall’s office traveled to Lowndes County on Nov. 29 to complete a raid of a local gaming facility, White Hall Entertainment, ultimately closing the business’s doors.
According to a media release Marshall issued Wednesday, his office obtained a temporary restraining order (TRO) involving over 600 illegal slot machines and multiple entities associated with the casino. The entertainment center was shut down Wednesday afternoon.
“Pursuant to the TRO, the facility has been closed and sealed, all assets of the entities have been frozen, and there can be no further financial transactions connected with the facility or those operating the facility until further orders from the Circuit Court of Lowndes County,” Marshall said. “The Attorney General’s Office also sought and executed a search warrant at the gambling facility as part of its ongoing investigation.”
The gaming facility, located on U.S. Highway 80 in Hayneville, offered promotions like “Ladies Night” and over 900 games in its open floor plan. The center’s website, www.whitehallent.com, promotes 24-hour, seven-day-a-week operating hours and doors that are “always open.” White Hall Entertainment was the only remaining facility of its kind in the area, following the closure of the Southern Star Entertainment Center in June.
Marshall explained that in September 2022, the Alabama Supreme Court issued an order which declared the operation of electronic bingo machines to be an ongoing nuisance in Lowndes County, causing White Hall Entertainment to close its doors. The facility reopened, except this time with illegal gaming machines. The actions taken by Marshall to shut down the operation follows actions taken against fourteen illegal gambling facilities in Jefferson County earlier this year.
“Today’s operations reflect the ongoing enforcement of previous orders issued by the Alabama Supreme Court for Lowndes County,” Marshall stated. “The individuals, building owners, and operators of these illegal machines acted in defiance of the law, local court orders, and Supreme Court of our state. Rackets such as these will not be tolerated in Lowndes County or elsewhere in Alabama.”