Charities got little from VictoryLand

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Figures released in a court opinion show that VictoryLand grossed $162 million from electronic bingo games in 2008 and paid just $1.3 million to charities.

The figures were included in a court order in a federal lawsuit filed by Lucky Palace, a group that tried to open a rival bingo operation across the street from VictoryLand.

The judge also said a lawyer for VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor helped write the regulations that determine who can operate bingo games in Macon County.

While Lucky Palace's lawyers say VictoryLand charities are getting a bad deal, John Bolton, an attorney representing VictoryLand, said payments have increased several times since bingo began there in 2003.

Bolton said the $125 million or more VictoryLand reported as its gross profits in the last two years reported are not bottom-line profit.