Over in Alabama, state officials are still trying to figure out how they can get legalized gaming approved, even with the latest bill falling short last month. Per a recent update, Retirement Systems of Alabama CEO David Bronner said he would like to see Governor Kay Ivey call a special session to try again to pass a proposed constitutional amendment on gambling. This after the latest offering failed by one vote during the annual session that ended in May. Bronner, speaking to reporters earlier this month after the quarterly meeting of the Employees’ Retirement System Board of Control, said he is concerned that leaner times are coming. Moreover, he also said the state will need revenue to sustain progress in education and other areas.
In this report, SBS will be going over the latest news and updates coming from the state along with additional thoughts regarding Alabama wagering and how you can stay on top of the action there.
Also noted in the report, Bronner said the revenue from a gambling package could help offset tax cuts passed the last couple of years and the cost of a new school choice program, the CHOOSE Act. This would allow parents to use $7,000 in tax dollars to pay for private school, money that would otherwise support public education. Bronner also stated, per the article, that could be a problem in a state that already lags behind most other states in school funding. “That train is coming down the track,” Bronner said.
Alabama lawmakers spent more than a year developing a plan for a lottery, casinos, and sports betting that in its initial form would have generated more than $900 million a year in net revenue for the state, according to estimates by the Legislative Services Agency. Noted in this space before, the House of Representatives passed the plan, then later passed a compromised version with no sports betting. The compromise plan fell one vote short in the Senate. Approval would have put it on the ballot for voters, who have the final say on gambling legislation. This was the closest the Legislature has come to putting a lottery on the ballot for voters since 1999.
Also covered in the article, for several years, Ivey has advocated for a statewide vote on the gambling issue. This includes during her State of the State address in February. She also supported the plan that passed the House this year.
“Governor Ivey has been on the record for years saying the people of Alabama deserve to have their say on gaming,” Gina Maiola, communications director for Ivey, said in an email in response to Bronner’s comments earlier this month. “In fact, she commissioned a study group in 2020 to help the Legislature and the voters make the best decision with all the facts. Since then, Governor Ivey has been engaged in every legislative effort and even supported multiple attempts this past session. While she remains supportive of legislation to address gambling in Alabama, she has made it clear that she has no plans to call a special session at this time.”
Bronner, CEO of Alabama’s pension funds for teachers and other public employees since 1973, said he believes Ivey could use her influence as governor to change votes in the Senate and put the gambling package on the ballot.
“She’s the one that has the leadership ability to say, ‘I didn’t lose by half the Senate,’” Bronner said. “‘I lost by one vote. I know I can get one vote, like three or four or five that could get on this thing if they want my the next two years.’”
Noted in the same article, Bronner praised Ivey and House Speaker Nathanial Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, who spearheaded support for the gambling package in the House, where it had died in previous years. Bronner said Ledbetter reminded him of Joe McCorquodale, who was speaker from the mid-1970s until the early 1980s.
“I think you have the first and best, toughest speaker I’ve seen since I was a youngster and I came here and Joe McCorquodale, I mean, he ran the place,” Bronner said. “You’ve got a guy that’s running the place now and he’s doing unbelievably good things. You’ve got a good governor, you know, compared to a lot of other ones.”
However, Bronner said he did not want to see what he considers strong initiatives started in the last few years fall to the wayside because of funding problems a few years down the road.
Once you are all squared away in regards to the latest gaming news and notes coming from the Cotton State, make sure to of course tap into the awesome array of information for you only at SBS. For additional insights into the topic covered here, check out the sports betting in Alabama guide which goes over all of the latest gaming updates and news coming from the region. Conversely, for those interested in diversifying their deposit and withdrawal options, look no further than the payment methods rundown. On this page, you can find all kinds of options from crypto to more traditional banking routes. Finally, if you are someone who is intrigued by higher-stakes gaming, look no further than the VIP sports betting sites breakdown which goes over the perks of VIP betting and if it might be right for you.
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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