Alabama Lawmakers Grapple with Gambling Legislation Ahead of 2025 Session

future of gambling legislation remains unclear. Over the past few months, legislators have engaged in discussions to outline potential provisions for a gambling bill. However, despite mapping out various elements, they have yet to finalize a proposal that can secure the necessary votes.

“The question is, which cut and paste would get a vote and which one loses a vote,” said Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, who has been leading the Senate’s efforts on gambling legislation. “We have got to find the magic combination that gains us four and loses two.”

The push for gambling reform follows the failure of a significant bill in 2024 that sought to establish a state lottery and introduce casino gaming. The bill, which originated in the Alabama House, stalled in the Senate due to disagreements over sports betting and gambling expansion.

Challenges in Crafting a Consensus

Since gambling remains prohibited under the Alabama Constitution, any legislative proposal must be approved by voters as a constitutional amendment. Lawmakers seeking to regulate and tax gambling acknowledge the difficulty of crafting a bill that satisfies all concerns, particularly regarding revenue distribution and permissible gambling activities.

Albritton, who managed the previous gambling package in the Senate but ultimately voted against it, emphasized the urgency of addressing the issue. “The problem hasn’t gone away,” he stated. “In fact, it is getting worse, particularly the sports gaming. It continues to grow in Alabama, and it is growing completely unregulated. We are just sitting around and watching it grow.”

Despite months of discussions, a finalized legislative package remains elusive. The challenge lies in balancing diverse perspectives within the legislature to form a bill that can withstand scrutiny and secure age.

House Awaits Senate Action

Legislators in the Alabama House have indicated that they will not advance gambling legislation unless the Senate takes the lead.

“We had it on our platform last time, and we pushed it out of the House, it remains in the Senate, and that is where it died,” said Alabama House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, during a news conference. “So, until the Senate decides that they want to prioritize it, we are not even going to think about it.”

Rep. Chris Blackshear, R-Smiths Station, who co-sponsored the previous comprehensive gambling package, echoed this stance. “Any gaming legislation in the 2025 session must originate in the Senate,” he asserted. “If the Senate does choose to take up a gaming package, and they something and send it to the House, then and only then, will we in the House engage and determine how we move forward.”

Blackshear and Rep. Andy Whitt, R-Harvest, developed a legislative proposal after extensive research, which included visiting multiple locations where illegal gambling operations were taking place. Their proposal aimed to introduce a state lottery, legalize limited casino gambling, and establish a state commission to regulate and tax the industry.

While their plan easily ed the House, it encountered resistance in the Senate, with disputes over its scope and the allocation of generated revenue. Senators later stripped the legislation down to focus solely on a state lottery and a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

However, a final compromise bill failed to gain Senate approval.

“The House proved, on two separate occasions, to be able to a comprehensive gaming plan out of our body, to allow the citizens to vote,” said Blackshear. “We also saw, on one occasion, we were not able to see that same thing in the Senate, so there is no need for us to tie up time, our ’ time and other important bills, to address something we have already done until the Senate is able to do the same.”

Opposition and Outside Influence

While some lawmakers push for gambling legislation, external groups continue efforts to block such measures. Among them is the Alabama Farmers Federation, a powerful entity in state politics and a key opponent of gambling expansion.

“The Alabama Farmers Federation has a longstanding written policy opposing gambling in any form,” said Jeff Helms, the group’s public relations and communications director. “Our policy comes from our .”

Helms further elaborated, stating that opposition is rooted in both moral concerns and skepticism ing gambling revenue to fund government programs. “They object to gambling on moral grounds but they also object to government-sanctioned gambling as a smart way to fund government functions.”

As of Thursday, only one gambling-related bill has been introduced. HB 41, sponsored by Rep. Matthew Hammett, R-Hozier, proposes stricter penalties for illegal gambling activities, making promotion or facilitation of gambling a Class C felony for a first offense and a Class B felony for subsequent offenses.

With the Alabama Legislature set to convene on Tuesday, the focus remains on whether the Senate will take the first step toward gambling reform. Until then, the issue remains unresolved, with lawmakers weighing both political risks and potential economic benefits.

Source:

”Gambling prospects uncertain as Alabama legislators return for 2025 session”, cdcgaming.com, February 03, 2025.