The justices, ruling unanimously, overturned the order of Circuit Judge Tom Young, who had held that Gambling Task Force Commander John Tyson did not have the authority to conduct raids without the consent of local officials.

Tyson did not say when the task force might attempt to raid Victoryland.  But he said the task force would take “immediate action” to stop illegal gambling “wherever it exists in Alabama, including Macon County.”

Governor Riley contends the machines in private casinos are illegal slots and said the Supreme Court decision means “no longer can local elected officials protect gambling bosses from enforcement of the law.”

Victoryland owner Milton McGregor could not immediately be reached for comment, but his attorney, Mark White, said the Supreme Court order decimates the three branches of government, giving the governor “unchecked power” to take actions over the objections of local officials.

White says “they decided that the governor is in essence the king of Alabama.”

The task force earlier this month shut down the Greenetrack electronic bingo casino at Eutaw in Greene County and confiscated more than 800 electronic bingo machines.

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