Lawyer General Luther Strange stated a search warrant was served Friday morning at Southern Star Entertainment Center in White Hall after an investigation of many months.

Alabama’s constitution makes it possible for bingo in White Hall for charitable purposes. Southern Star originally operated common paper bingo games, but installed machines in March that it described as legal. Unusual said the investigation determined they weren’t.

No one answered the phone in the business enterprise Friday afternoon, and its internet site stated it was temporarily closed. The enterprise is situated about 20 miles west of Montgomery on U.S. 80, a significant route to Mississippi.

A nearby casino, White Hall Entertainment Center, was raided and closed in March 2009, during former Gov. Bob Riley’s crackdown on gambling halls. Practically $550,000 in money seized through that raid ultimately became property of the state government.

The attorney general performed a related raid at Center Stage casino in Dothan in July, seizing 400 electronic bingo machines and $283,000 in cash. Following the raid, Center Stage continued operating with paper bingo games.

“From my initial day in office, I have worked to ensure that illegal gambling laws are enforced consistently across the state,” Strange said.

The casinos in White Hall and Dothan had been privately operated and had been below state supervision. The Poarch Creek Indians continue to operate electronic bingo casinos in Atmore, Wetumpka and Montgomery which have been below federal supervision.