In the Cotton State, there have been some recent major developments regarding the future of gaming in the state. With the latest session of the Alabama Legislature concluding earlier this month, a new gambling bill was not approved by the Alabama legislative body. That said, Alabama governor Kay Ivey did share some thoughts she wanted to see the bill go to a vote later this year in November in a recent article.
As always, SBS has the breakdown on this news below along with more information on all the gaming happenings in Alabama.
Per a recent update from the Montgomery Advertiser, Governor Ivey said she was disappointed that the Alabama Legislature did not approve a gambling bill during their last session. In the report, Ivey said that while she does think people have a right to that decision, she wishes that the bill had passed in the Legislature so constituents could vote yay or nay in November. However, Governor Ivey did not specify which of the gamlbing pills she wanted to pass.
According to the article in the Advertiser, there was one bill sponsored by Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore which would have basically resurrected a comprehensive gaming package that passed the Senate in 2021 but fell apart in the House. The other bill, sponsored and spearheaded by Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollingers Island, would have set up a lottery in the state. Gaming in Alabama has been an ongoing development for some time now and there have been moves made in the past by the governor to see how it could work in Alabama.
According to the same report, the governor did convene a commission in 2020 for a comprehensive study of gambling. For this particular project, the commission was headed up by Montogmery Mayor Todd Strange. Per the study, it was estimated that gambling would bring up to $700 million into the state and create approximately 19,000 jobs. Moreover, Ivey praised the group’s work on the project and its findings but also kept her distance from the legislative debates over gambling in 2021.
As stated in the article, the authorization of a lottery or approving gambling in Alabama requires amending the state Constitution. In Alabama, the governor does not have an official role in that process. So while it would seem that these recent gaming projects have been shelved, there is still some hope for the future of gaming in the state given the recent economic study and the value it could bring to Alabama.
With new gaming bills taking a pause in the state, there are still plenty of other ways to stay on top of what is happening in Alabama. For instance, one of the best places to familiarize yourself with is the SBS overview of sports wagering in Alabama. Here you can find all the available and legal ways to wager in the Cotton State. Also, this page has a great rundown on bonuses and promotions too. On the topic of bonuses, SBS has a robust guide on the latest and greatest bonus wagering pages out there. So if you are needing some extra oomph on your wagers, this is a great place to start.
Finally, if you are someone that is always moving around and need some more convenient options to wager, SBS has your back. Our guide on the finest mobile wagering options is a phenomenal resource for how to bet using your mobile device. Plus, you can also find different exclusive mobile offers here as well.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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