Texas VFW sues over seizure of Triana bingo machines

The Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars is asking a federal judge to declare its electronic bingo operation legal in Triana.

The Texas VFW says in a suit in U.S. District Court in Birmingham that it had all the licenses and was following state and local laws in playing bingo for charity. It seeks a preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order to prevent Sheriff Blake Dorning from confiscating more of its machines.

The Texas VFW has a three-year agreement with the Alabama VFW to operate in the state and share proceeds for the groups' charities.

On Nov. 3 deputies seized 200 electronic bingo machines, other property and more than $36,000 in cash. On Nov. 6 deputies returned and confiscated a computer server used for the electronic bingo game, according to the suit.

The lawsuit states that the Texas VFW was legally operating under the rules set by the state constitutional amendment that allows charity bingo in Madison County, a Triana town bingo ordinance, and an opinion by the Alabama attorney general.