After much discussion between local and state officials, non-profit organizations meeting certain criteria will be allowed to host electronic bingo in Walker County. Sheriff John Mark Tirey said his office, which has been responsible for issuing bingo permits since 1993, had gotten numerous requests for applications to play electronic bingo. Permits or licenses for bingo are issued only to non-profit organizations that have been in existence for 60 months and have owned real property for at least five.

“Bingo have about 28 applications right now,” said Tirey, “so District Attorney Charles Baker contacted the attorney general’s office, and after much review, concluded that electronic bingo in Walker County will be OK at least for the time being, or until the issue is ruled upon by the Alabama attorney general’s office or the Alabama Supreme Court.”

County voters approved a 1992 constitutional amendment allowing bingo for people 19 and over.

The County Commission then adopted a resolution to set up bingo with a $50 application fee for a permit that goes into the county’s general fund.

“Bingo has been played in this county by numerous organizations for the past 14 years,” Tirey said. “A lot of the fire departments and some charities operate bingo through Bingo permit process.”