As many regular readers of this space are aware, Alabama’s legislative sessions have become a battleground for gaming bills and it looks like next year’s session will feature some huge action. Per a recent report from the state, while the 2023 legislative session was a quiet year for lottery and gambling bills, 2024 is primed for the opposite. After close calls in the 2021 and 2022 sessions to authorize a comprehensive legal gaming framework and put the final questions back to the people of Alabama for the first time since a 1999 constitutional amendment. As noted in the article, the current assortment of state lawmakers remain untested on the question of gaming, as they enter the second year of their quadrennium as colleagues.
For this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from the latest gaming news coming from Alabama and also more notes about Cotton State wagering.
As noted in the same article, gaming in the state is a hot-button topic for state legislators. Rep. Andy Whitt (R-Harvest) was recently tasked by House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter to lead a group of members to intently look at the landscape of legalized gaming for the state. They have a lot of material to work with, particularly from Gov. Kay Ivey’s 2020 study commission that produced an almost 900-page report on the potential revenue, public support, and regulatory avenues available. However, the group is not just studying in the abstract. Whitt noted in one interview he has been learning as much as he can about the facilities and operations of neighboring states.
Ivey’s 2020 study group estimated that legalizing gambling could generate annual revenue between $510 million and $710 million for the state. Moreover, this includes an estimated $200 million to $300 million from a state lottery, $300 million to $400 million from casino gaming, and finally, around $10 million from sports betting. Moreover, the historic and continual loss of revenue Alabama suffers by not having a legal gaming framework is a subject, Whitt said in the article. However, he has said the forthcoming bill regarding gaming will be written by lawmakers and not lobbyists. “My hope is that we can get our two sides to sit down, face reality, and find a mutually agreeable sweet spot somewhere in the middle,” he told one media outlet in the state.
Per the same article, gaming legalization has been an uphill battle for certain state politicians. For example, in 2021, the revenue distribution plan included in the Senate-passed package was earmarked largely for education, scholarships, broadband expansion, urban development, and more. While that package cleared the Senate, it didn’t get the same bipartisan reception in the House. As Majority Leader at this time, now-Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter had House Republicans behind the Senate package after exhaustive negotiations throughout the session. As noted in the report, having support from Ledbetter, along with Governor Ivey will help the gaming process in many ways. However, the Governor also noted in a news report that this time around, for a proposal to get her support, “it must be done right,” Ivey said.
After you are all dialed in regarding the latest news and notes coming from Alabama, make sure to tap into the wide variety of resources available to you only at SBS. Of course, for even more notes on the topic at hand, our sports betting Alabama guide has you covered with all the latest news and updates coming from the state. Conversely, for those on the go, the best betting apps rundown is a fantastic resource for mobile betting sites. Here, you can learn more about the tips and tricks of mobile wagering and how you can stay on top of the action. Finally, for those looking for some higher stakes wagering, the VIP sports betting sites breakdown is a fantastic page where you can tap into the world of VIP betting and if it is the right fit for you.
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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