After being approved in the House, the Alabama Senate came up one vote short on a compromise gaming package. However, there is just enough time left in the legislative session to reconsider and pass the bill.
Let’s take a closer look at the main obstacles behind this bill and what this might represent for top-rated sportsbooks in the region.
Nipped at the Finish Line
A sweeping gaming package was advanced by the Alabama House to a conference committee and from there was given to the Senate for a final vote. However, the upper chamber, needing a three-fifths majority to pass the bill, voted 20-15 in favor but needed 21 votes to clear the required majority threshold.
“50% of them say thank you, 50% of them call me other names,” said Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, who initially supported the package but decided to oppose it. “But I’m sure those that voted yes are getting the same emails.”
There are two bills in question, HB 151 would permit gaming in the Yellowhammer State while HB 152 outlines the regulations and gaming enforcement agencies, determines tax rates and outlines where the profits would ultimately go that would manifest as a result of its passage. Thursday, May 9th, marks the end of the legislative session, therefore, all is not lost as the Senate has until then to reconsider and approve the committee’s proposal.
Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, a proponent of legalized gaming, said, “I’m just hoping they can come around and give the state of Alabama what is needed because we need this new income. After 2026, we’re going to find all this federal income is gone, and we need more income in the state of Alabama.”
What’s at Stake?
Alabama is one of only five states without a lottery with the others being Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah. A state lottery is one issue on which virtually all of the pro-gambling advocates can agree but then the interests of the parties become frayed.
The House wanted a sweeping, comprehensive package that included key components including a lottery, commercial casinos and sports betting. The Poarch Band of Creek Indians operate the only three casinos in Alabama but the bill would have greenlighted commercial casinos that would have allowed the state to receive a cut of the profits.
Another sticking point was that some legislators wanted the Poarch Band of Creek Indians to have exclusive control of any new casinos to be built with taxes being paid on those entities through a gaming compact with the state. However, others feel any new brick-and-mortar casinos should be outside the province of tribal control.
The compromise package that came out of the Senate committee allows a state lottery with the proceeds directed to educational resources while ceding control of any new land-based casinos to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. The committee’s proposal also allows electronic gaming machines to be given to specific racetracks and bingo halls. However, the glaring omission was sports betting, which is what many pro-gambling advocates labeled as their top priority.
It is unlikely all parties will be satisfied, which is what normally results in any compromise bill. Still, even that could be a bridge too far with so many disparate visions of what gaming will look like in Alabama.
“The Senate will continue to do exactly what we do,” Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed, R-Jasper, said. “Which is work, debate, discuss, and that’s what was going on even today.”
