PELHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- Some Pelham businesses said they are confused about paper bingo laws in central Alabama.
Lil Bits and Pub 261 had their licenses up for revocation Monday night following a license check that discovered the bingo operation. Paper bingo with a cash prize meets all three elements under Alabama state law to be considered a lottery.
“In Alabama law, a lottery, which is generally illegal, is anything there a prize awarded by chance," said Pelham City Attorney Josh Arnold, "and your participation is for consideration, meaning you have to exchange something of value to participate in the possibility of winning a prize, not even necessarily a cash prize, any prize, and the prize is by chance."
With it falling under the law, paper bingo is illegal in Shelby County.
“In Alabama, there are places where you can play bingo," Arnold said. "All of those places have a statewide constitutional amendment, allowing those localities to host or to allow bingo games."
Shelby County or the city of Pelham does not have any type of amendment.
“The long and short of it is it is against the law to play bingo in the city of Pelham,” Arnold said.
Micheal Wallace, an attorney representing Pub 261, said with neighboring counties like Jefferson County allowing bingo, businesses in Pelham suffer.
“Right up the street here, folks can go play bingo," Wallace said, "and that’s competition with us. That’s our business competition."
Wallace said he is working to try and bring an amendment to Shelby County that would allow paper bingo to be played.
“We are working to get that done and contacting our representatives," Wallace said. "Whatever we need to do to get it on a ballot, we would like to do."
Wallace said he is planning to start a petition to allow Shelby County residents to voice their opinions.