Sports betting in Alabama has been a contentious topic for years now, but the latest bill to legalize its future could find out its fate fairly soon thanks to the state legislature. Per a recent report, an Alabama conference committee kicked off last week to determine the state’s sports betting future. Cotton State lawmakers will have to work out the details for a bill that will potentially include the legalization of casinos, a lottery, and sports betting. As noted in this space before, the House approved two expansive gaming bills in February that called for the legalization of up to seven casinos, in-person and online sports betting, and a state lottery to support Alabama education. However, a Senate committee later stripped sports betting language out of the bills leaving only the approval of three tribal casinos, a state lottery, and wagering on horse and dog races at seven state tracks.
In this report, SBS will be going over the latest gaming notes and updates coming from Alabama along with additional news and notes about Cotton State gaming updates.
As noted in one article, sports betting hopes in Alabama “started off high during this year’s legislative season.” The House approved expansive gaming legislation in February to legalize a state lottery, casinos, and sports betting. The House approved bills HB 151 and HB 152, which called for the legalization of up to seven casinos, in-person and online sports betting, and a state lottery to support Alabama education.
Despite the approval, a Senate committee quickly dashed hopes for sports betting in the state. Per one report, the Senate Tourism Committee entirely stripped sports betting from the gaming packages just three weeks later, leaving only the approval of three tribal casinos, a state lottery, and parimutuel wagering on horse and dog races at seven state tracks. The Alabama Senate approved the legislation by a 22-11 vote in March, but this month the House did not concur with the expansive amendments and requested a conference committee for the legislation.
Per the article, conference committee reports are then presented to both chambers and they must be voted on again. Both the Alabama Senate and House of Representatives announced their conferences late last month. The House is being represented by Rep. Chris Blackshear (R-80); Rep. Sam Jones (D-99); and Rep. Andy Whitt (R-16). The Senate is represented by Sen. Greg Albritton (R-22); Sen. Garln Gudger (R-4); and Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton (D-24).
As noted in the same article, several conferencees have perhaps informally met earlier this week to discuss the issues of last month’s conference committees. Per another local news source in the state, Albritton, Gudger, and Whitt said several of the conferees held an informal meeting late in April. It is uncertain if all conference committee representatives were invited to the meeting, but the local report noted Gudger proclaimed there was more agreement among the conferees than he expected.
The Alabama session will officially end on May 20th, but lawmakers must pass a potential bill at least 10 days prior to the final day. This gives Alabama lawmakers until May 9th to pass a bill. The conference committee will have to find common ground and present the newly amended bill to both the House and Senate. The bill would need three-fifths approval in both chambers to be approved. State voters would have the final say on the gaming package in the November general election.
Per the same article, prior to the Senate stripping all sports betting language out of the legislation, the House-approved bills called for the establishment of an Alabama Gaming Commission to license and regulate the conduct of all sports wagering. This also includes charitable gaming activities, lotteries, and casino gaming activities in the state. The bill also created the Alabama Gaming Enforcement Division, which would have included the power to police all gaming activities in the state and “work to eradicate unlawful gaming and gaming-related activities.”
The bills taxed casinos at a rate of 24% of net gaming revenue and 95% of total gaming revenue was earmarked to the state’s Gaming Trust Fund every month. A percentage of the revenues would have been distributed among municipalities where the casinos are located. Sports betting would be taxed at 17% of net gaming revenue, with 90% of the revenue allocated to the Gaming Trust Fund. A state education lottery would have also been created.
Once you are all squared away regarding the latest gaming news and notes coming from the Cotton State, make sure to also check into all the fantastic information available to you at SBS. For even more information and news on the topic at hand, the sports betting in Alabama guide has you covered when it comes to all the latest updates coming from the state as they relate to gaming. Conversely, if you are interested in maximizing your wagers, look no further than the best bonus betting sites rundown which covers a lot of great info like a catalog of the latest welcome bonus offers. Finally, for those on the go, the best betting apps breakdown is a must-read page. Here you can learn more about the nuances of mobile betting and how you can stay on top of the action.
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 in the Mountain West Conference, and basketball. 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.
Read Chris's ProfileAsk Chris about this guide:
