MONTGOMERY -- The leader of Gov. Bob Riley's gambling task force said he is "absolutely not" finished with the VictoryLand bingo casino, even though the casino ceased bingo operations six weeks ago.

Task Force on Illegal Gambling commander John Tyson Jr. contended Friday that it is a crime to possess the electronic gambling machines that until recently operated at VictoryLand.

Meanwhile, a VictoryLand lawyer is refusing to say whether the machines still are onsite at what was the state's largest bingo casino.

VictoryLand shut down Aug. 9 to prevent a raid by the task force. Greyhound racing has resumed at the track, but not electronic bingo. Tyson said the task force may try to take additional action against VictoryLand, but he would not elaborate.

"Among other things, it is illegal to possess slot machines," Tyson said.

Tyson said he believes VictoryLand still has the machines and is trying to hide them from the task force. "The statute does not say they're illegal unless you put a wall around them," Tyson said.

VictoryLand attorney J. Mark White declined to say whether the machines still are at VictoryLand. "No citizen is obligated to discuss the private areas of their home and business with anyone," White said.

"I think Mr. Tyson has no respect for the law, no respect for a citizen's right to privacy .$?.$?. If I wanted to hide something from him, I would put it in a law book," White said.

Riley maintains the electronic bingo machines, which resemble slot machines, are illegal and not what voters had in mind when they approved laws allowing charities to operate bingo to raise funds.

VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor maintains the electronic games are legal under a constitutional amendment allowing bingo.

The Alabama Supreme Court last month lifted a court order that had blocked the task force from raiding VictoryLand. Although the operation now is closed, the task force could enter the facility if it obtained a search warrant. But the task force previously was unsuccessful in getting a judge to issue a search warrant for VictoryLand.

The task force has not obtained a court ruling on whether the particular machines used at VictoryLand are legal. However, Tyson said he believes the task force has been successful.

"It is certainly one of the goals, however the task force is already fantastically successful in closing these establishments," Tyson said.