Gaming expansion has long been a contentious issue in the Yellowhammer State. Still, it seems like it is not going away anytime soon, according to a report from a local Alabama outlet. Per the article, some support the addition of a lottery and casinos, some advocate for a lottery only, and others are completely against gambling altogether. In 2024, for instance, a gambling expansion package came just one vote shy of passing. That said, during a public forum earlier this July in Cullman, GOP candidates for House District 12 – Dan McWhorter, Heather Doyle, Clint Hollingsowrth and Cindy Myrex – were asked whether they would support allowing the public to vote on a gambling or lottery bill. “The second plank of my platform is a stand-alone lottery,”McWhorter said. “I am tired of seeing the state of Alabama putting high school students in Tennessee through two years of college.”
For this article, SBS will be going over the most recent updates coming from the Cotton State, along with some additional notes and thoughts regarding Alabama gaming updates.
In addition to the above quote, McWhorter also had this to say in the report. “We need a stand-alone lottery bill. If Class 3 gambling is something people want, then they need to vote on it,” McWhorter said in the same article. “I will push any legislation through as long as the people of Alabama get a chance to vote on it. Class 3 gambling should be able to stand on its own. The only time I would not go with that bill is if it looks like the Poarch Creek Indians would have a monopoly on casino gambling in Alabama.”
Additionally, Doyle agreed that she would rather keep the money spent on other states’ lotteries in Alabama. “I would want my people to vote for a lottery before spending that money. We have people driving to Georgia, Tennessee, Floria just to get tickets,” Doyle said in the update. “Let’s put that money into our state, or let the people decide if they want to keep that money here. It will benefit our Education Trust Fund, and we can float those dollars into other places, out into the classrooms to support our teachers and have smaller classroom sizes. I mean, 100% yes, I think people should be allowed to vote for a lottery.”
Hollingsworth said it would come down to the details of the bill on whether or not he would support it. “So you got the lottery and you got the sports betting, and obviously both are controversial,” Hollingsworth explained. “But the devil is always in the details with anything… Ultimately, yes, the people should be able to vote, but they need to know what they are voting on and they need to know what the details are.”
Noted in the same article, candidate Myrex said that though she was opposed to gambling, she would push forward a bill for the public to vote on if it were lottery-only. “If I have a clean bill that is strictly for the lottery, I am going to give it to you to vote on,” Myrex noted. “My vote is yes, give it to the people to vote on. I do not care for it. I do not care to have it in our state, the state of Alabama. But I am your representation. If that is what you say you want, we will give you the opportunity to vote on it and then we will see where it lands us.”
In other Alabama gambling news, federal agents and local law enforcement officers dismantled a cockfighting fighting ring in Blount County earlier this month. Seventy-five people were taken into custody on criminal and civil charges, one local outlet report. The operation, under the umbrella of the Gulf of America Homeland Security, is still ongoing. Suspects taken into custody included a mixture of American citizens, those were here lawfully, but “a large number are illegal aliens,” Schrank said.
The agent said the ring involved “just terrible conduct that is abusing livestock, taking advantage and victimizing animals and profiting from that through an illegal gambling operation.” Additionally, he said chickens were “armed with blades and would ultimately kill each other in the name of sport.” Indeed this was a scary development that definitely would have gotten worse had law enforcement not intervened when they did. Of course, these stories are often all too common in some southern states.
Once you are all up to speed in relation to the latest gambling notes and news coming from the Cotton State, make sure to peruse the excellent array of insights available to you at SBS. Of course, for even more analysis from this particular area, the sports betting in Alabama guide has your back when it comes to the latest updates and news for gaming in the region. Conversely, for those who are eligible and qualify, the BetOnline sportsbook review rundown has your back with a variety of notes and updates coming from the outlet that you can use to your advantage. Finally, if you are someone looking for some higher-stakes wagering and qualify, the VIP sports betting sites breakdown is your page to bookmark. Here you can explore all of the latest VIP bonuses and promotions to keep you rolling along.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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