Alabama Sports Betting Suffers Another Setback

On Tuesday, a Senate committee in Alabama passed bills that would legalize gambling on a limited basis, allowing just lotteries and excluding sports betting and full casino games. The measure, which was approved by the Alabama House on February 15 and featured sports betting, a lottery, and up to seven new casinos, was drastically altered by the current plan. The date on which voters will determine whether to accept the package’s required constitutional change has been moved in the updated form. Instead of the general election in November, that would take place in a special election on September 10.

The bill’s Senate sponsor, Atmore senator Greg Albritton, R., stated that the modifications were made in an attempt to get enough votes for the legislation to succeed. On voice voting, the Senate Tourism Committee supported the Act. This positions it for Senate consideration. To pass, the constitutional change will require the support of 21 of the 35 senators, or a three-fifths majority. In that case, the Senate’s modifications would force the proposal back to the House. It would then need to go to a conference committee that would attempt to find a middle ground between the two versions if the House did not approve of the numerous amendments.

A gaming commission with an enforcement branch is established by the legislation. According to Albritton, it would accomplish the primary goals of taxing, regulating, and controlling gaming in the state, which is currently governed by a disorganized set of municipal constitutional amendments. “Those are the things that we’re trying to get started with and capturing that, controlling it, regulating it, getting the enforcement division set up and doing our job as a state to control this industry,” Albritton said.

The bill would bar further gambling-related constitutional amendments and repeal the current ones. Only the racetracks in Greene, Jefferson, Macon, and Mobile Counties, along with one more site in Greene County, as well as the bingo parlors that are now operating in Houston County and the town of White Hall in Lowndes County, would be allowed to offer gambling. Through simulcasts and wagering on vintage racing machines, the establishments might provide pari-mutuel betting on horse and dog races. The proposed amendment would subject gambling-related activities to a tax of 24–32 percent. Casino games and electronic bingo would not be permitted.

Under the concept, the governor would be able to hold talks with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. If a compact is reached, the tribe’s casinos in Atmore, Wetumpka, and Montgomery—which currently have electronic bingo—might be permitted to provide full-fledged casino games. The amendment outlines the distribution of net earnings from pari-mutuel and lottery gaming: Revenue would support ongoing infrastructure and capital upgrade projects through March 30, 2029.

Subsequently, a third would be allocated to services related to education, a third to general government objectives unrelated to education, and a third to transportation and road improvement projects. Also, 3% of net earnings would go to the counties and localities hosting the gambling establishments. One percent would be allocated to services that address issues brought on by addictions to gambling.

According to Albritton, the main reason sports betting was taken out of the proposal was due to worries about the possible harm it could bring to children. “The most common one was the fear that this would draw in youth too rapidly and too egregiously and too openly,” Albritton said.

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