By Alabama Public Radio
Birmingham, AL – A court ruling released this week clears the way for the use of controversial sweepstakes video games at the Birmingham Race Course. However, the ruling also says the game's operators are exploiting loopholes in Alabama anti-gambling laws. The MegaSweeps games at the Birmingham Race Course offer cash prizes, but operators say its not gambling because players obtain sweepstakes entries when they buy Internet time for an on-site cafe and only use the machines to find out if they've won. Circuit Judge Scott Vowell agreed that the games were legal and ordered authorities to return machines and earnings that had been seized. But Vowell also said the sweepstakes gaming takes advantage of state anti-lottery and gambling laws. Vowell also called on state lawmakers to close those loopholes. Meanwhile, prosecutors are still considering an appeal to the state Supreme Court. Race course officials say they plan to reopen their operation as soon as possible.