Bingo halls in California can continue to use electronic bingo machines thanks to a temporary restraining order issued by a federal judge on Thursday.
Last month, attorney general Jerry Brown ordered 15 bingo halls to remove the machines. He claims they are illegal under state law.
But Judge John A. Mendez of the Eastern District of California said a lawsuit over the crackdown was likely to succeed. Plaintiffs in the case include a gaming manufacturer, charities that operate bingo halls and two disabled players who use the electronic games.
State legal opinions going back to 1984 say the machines are illegal anywhere in the state except in Indian Country.
Get the Story:Judge halts bingo machine crackdown (The Contra Costa Times 6/6)