DOTHAN, AL (WSFA) -
Officials with Center Stage gaming facility in Houston County are reacting more than a day after agents of the Alabama Attorney General's office served a warrant authorizing them the seize the center's machines and money.
Center Stage called the seizure of hundreds of machines and an undisclosed about of cash "unnecessary" and contradicts statements by the AG's office that it refused to cooperate in multiple attempts to let authorities determine the machines' legality.
"If you see something you do not like, please tell us and we will correct it or take it out," is the stance the company says it has always taken in regards to the AG's investigation.
The gaming facility says it even removed all machines from its charity operation that were the focus of the AG's initial cease and desist order in 2011. "We have repeatedly tried to stay in contact...to maintain that we would fully cooperate...," Center State leaders contend as it tried to resolve differences of interpretation of state regulations.
Attorney General Luther Strange's office contends the machines are illegal slot machines. Center Stage says the machines are legal electronic bingo machines, operated by a charity that's contributed $10 million to local businesses and citizens in the last year.
Center Stage, originally created by developer Ronnie Gilley under the name Country Crossing, says it will not go out of business because of the seizure. Officials say advertised entertainment will go on when the doors open on Friday.
The property seized Wednesday will be held as evidence in a forfeiture procedure in Houston County Circuit Court. A date for that proceeding has yet to be set.
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