Source says owner of Alabama’s largest bingo casino arrested in gambling probe

AP source: Owner of Ala’s largest casino arrested

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The owner of Alabama’s largest casino and a state senator have been arrested as part of a federal investigation of political corruption.

The arrests come amid Gov. Bob Riley’s efforts against electronic bingo gambling in Alabama.

A federal grand jury in Montgomery has been investigating whether political corruption or vote buying was involved in an unsuccessful effort to pass legislation to legalize bingo casinos.

Sources tell The Associated Press that VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor and state Sen. Harri Anne Smith were picked up Monday morning. The charges were not immediately available.

The sources are familiar with the investigation’s developments and spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement is to be made later.