At one place the sign read: "Judge ruled closed!!"

Another storefront had "OPEN 24 HRS" in large bold-yellow letters, but taped on the front door was a piece of paper with "closed until further notice" written on it.

At least one video bingo joint, though, in Gillette continued operations Thursday after a court ruling came down the previous day that determined the game is illegal.

Yet its doors shut - with no indication they or any other video bingo business's doors may open again - after the business received a letter at about 3 p.m.

Campbell County Attorney Jeani Stone drafted a cease-and-desist letter Thursday concerning the operation of video bingo machines after 1st Judicial District Judge E. James Burke's ruling.

"As a result, effectively immediately, the operation of all electronic bingo machines in Campbell County will be deemed a violation of the law, whether maintained by a non-profit organization or not," Stone wrote.

The Cheyenne judge's ruling in response to a lawsuit to determine the game's legality effectively killed video bingo in Wyoming, a business that proliferated across the state during the past few years using casino-style machines.

Although operation of the machines must cease immediately, according to the county attorney's office, businesses have until 5 p.m. next Friday to dispose of the machines.