Despite a promising beginning that would have brought a state lottery and sports betting, among other things, to Alabama the legislature adjourned without passing any gaming bills this session.
Better Luck Next Time
Alabama is one of only five states without a state lottery. However, this legislative session promised to change all that and tap into a wellspring of gaming revenue streams enjoyed by the vast majority of state and local governments throughout the nation.
Unfortunately for those Alabama residents pining to buy a lottery ticket or make a sports bet, this session failed to fulfill that promise and Alabama will continue as a barren betting landscape. Neither HB 151 nor HB 152 were passed despite the Senate gutting the gaming bills and delivering only a bare-bones version that did away with both sports betting and expanded casino gaming.
The bill was sent to a committee and it released a compromise package that included an Alabama lottery, electronic games allowed at seven locations, and compact negotiations with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians who would have enjoyed exclusive control over casino gaming in the state. Many believed there was just enough time left in the session to get the compromise package passed, but ultimately those efforts came up short.
Senator Greg Albritton, the author of several gaming packages, was cautiously optimistic before the session ended, saying, “I hope [that it passes]. I can guarantee this, though: if we get a good piece of legislation, it will be difficult. As we make one person happy, we’ll make three mad. It will be a difficult move.”
Where Do We Go From Here?
It’s not a question of if but when gaming will become legal in Alabama. The support for a comprehensive gaming package including sports betting is present in the House. The lower chamber cleared the three-fifths majority threshold and that bill included sports betting as well as a lottery, casino expansion, and electronic gaming machines to be allowed at designated racetracks and bingo halls.
Disagreements on Casino Gaming
However, the Senate does not have the same appetite for gaming that the House does but did at least consent to a state lottery. Yet, after that the waters get murky. The House wanted commercial casinos without the Poarch Band of Creek Indians getting exclusive control while many in the Senate wanted to grant the tribal nation that monopoly as they are already operating three Wind Creek casinos limited to slots only, no table games allowed.
Governor Kay Ivey commissioned the Study Group on Gambling Policy in 2020, which determined adding a state lottery, casino gaming, and sports betting would drive revenues to $800 million per year.
When asked if she would call a special session to consider the gaming bills, the governor responded, “Why would I do that? They cannot come to a consensus among themselves. Why would I spend the time effort and money on a special session?”
Ivey has been a proponent of bringing gaming to the Yellowhammer State and commented after the bills had failed, “I wanted the people to have a choice to vote on the issue. I’m disappointed they will not get a chance to vote this year.”
Ivey was referring to the gaming referendum which would have allowed the voters to be the ultimate arbiters of whether Alabama should have, at the very least, a state lottery. Despite the setback, this latest effort came closer than any others to getting through the legislature and many industry insiders believe some form of gambling will be passed the next time around.
