Owners of the shuttered VictoryLand casino in Shorter, Alabama told media that the venue, which once featured a greyhound track, casino, and hotel, will soon be reopened. When operational, the property was known to be among the largest taxpayers and employers in Macon County.
VictoryLand was shuttered in 2010 for allegedly featuring illegal electronic bingo games. After a brief reopening in 2013, the casino was once again closed. Generally speaking, it has not been operational for the past five years. However, after Judge William Shashy from the Montgomery County Circuit Court ruled in favor of VictoryLand not just once but twice, the casino is expected to commence operations anytime soon.
Local media reported that Shorter Mayor Willie Mae Powell and other officials welcomed the news for the casino’s revival, as VictoryLand is expected to bring about the much-needed economic boost to the struggling Macon County. Back in 2010, when the gambling venue was closed, the county lost millions of dollars in tax revenue and saw 2,300 people remain unemployed.
Following the news about VictoryLand’s reopening, Milton McGregor, owner of the gambling venue, revealed that nearly 4,000 job applications have been submitted. He further noted that once fully operational, the casino would employ up to 2,000 people from the region.
Mr. McGregor also pointed out that prior to its closure in 2010, VictoryLand was the biggest taxpayer in the county, contributing millions of dollars to the local Education Trust Fund and the General Fund.
According to the figures released by Macon County, the casino has paid more than $300 million in taxes since it first opened doors. Of those, $6.3 million were paid to the city, county, and state coffers in sales taxes. Ad valorem taxes of more than $6.5 million and pari-mutuel taxes of $44.9 million went to the General Fund.
Mr. McGregor said that he and his colleagues are determined to bring VictoryLand to its former glory, promising that the venue would be even “bigger and better” this time. He noted that he would announce an official date for the casino’s reopening within a fortnight. VictoryLand’s relaunch is expected to revive a region with high unemployment rates and to give it the much-needed economic boost, officials for Macon County told media.
