Well, it's no surprise to us that the NIGC told Gov. Bob Riley that he couldn't shut down "illegal" electronic bingo machines operated by the Poarch Creek Indian Tribe.  According to the NIGC, the machines are Class II, and bingo is legal in Alabama.  Riley has been targeting electronic bingo in the state, and wanted to include tribal bingo in his sights.  But his crackdown on electronic bingo can't extend to the Tribe's bingo machines, which are governed by IGRA rather than Alabama law.

So no surprise in that communication from the NIGC.  But here's an interesting nugget: Penny Coleman, the NIGC's acting general counsel, reportedly also took the occasion to say that there currently are no efforts underway to revive former NIGC Chair Phil Hogen's years-long attempt to promulgate "bright line" regulations for Class II machines . . . .

Read more in the Mobile Press-Register