In a recent article from AL.com, the site gives an overview of the current state of gambling legislation in 2023 and if you should bet on widespread gaming authorization this year. The short answer: don’t bet on it. While most of the United States has approved various forms of gaming from scratch-off tickets to casinos, Alabama remains an outlier, where most forms of commercialized gambling are illegal. However, this has not stopped lawmakers from weighing comprehensive packages before. Casinos and lottery have long been a part of considerations, and within the past five years, sports betting has been added to the mix. However, it seems that Alabama lawmakers in 2023 are sitting out of the gambling debate. Not one piece of legislation has been introduced this season to legalize gambling of any form.
For this article, SBS will be going over what to look for from the latest gaming and betting news in Alabama and also some more notes about Cotton State wagering.
Per the report from AL.com, Alabama, along with Hawaii, Nevada, Alaska, and Utah are the states in America that do not have lottery systems. Hawaii and Utah have no casino gambling, while Alabama and Alaska only have tribal casinos. Lottery proponents in the Cotton State argue that the small scratch-off tickets and Powerball tickets bring in big-time funds. In 2021 for instance, California, Florida, and Massachusetts took in over $25 billion combined in lottery income. Alabama, according to the study group’s 2020 report, would raise an estimated $200 million to $300 million from having a statewide lottery.
Per the report, Danny Sheridan, the legendary oddsmaker and mobile native, said that right now, Alabamians are supporting adjacent states by purchasing lottery tickets at convenience stores near the state border. Moreover, Alabama does not generate any revenues from the casinos that are currently operating on tribal lands. Per the article, commercial casinos have the potential to bring in the most tax revenue, estimated at $300 million to $400 million, according to the study in the article.
Highlighted in the same article, if legalized in Alabama, sports betting would generate $10 million annually, according to a 2020 gambling policy report. Nationally, 33 states and the District of Columbia, allow sports betting including neighboring Mississippi, which is weighing whether to legalize mobile sports betting. Mississippi generated close to $7 million in tax revenues in fiscal year 2022, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
While most forms of gaming are outlawed in the state, Alabama has bingo halls which have long been established in some of its poorer areas within the state. Those facilities bring jobs and revenues to areas starving for both as the report alludes to, but lawmakers in the region have been hesitant toward approving any comprehensive gambling plan that would erode that. The last time a comprehensive gambling package was almost approved by state lawmakers was in 2021. One state senator said in the report that the issue is complicated in the rural “Black Belt” region of the state where communities with a lack of large employers are dependent on the bingo facilities, further complicating matters in the Cotton State.
After you are all squared away regarding the recent updates and news coming out of the Cotton State, SBS has you covered with even more helpful information to keep the good times rolling. Of course, if you are invested in this topic then our sports betting in Alabama guide is a great resource to see the latest news from the area. Conversely, for those that are on the go, the SBS best betting apps breakdown is a must-read page that covers the perks of mobile sports betting and how you can stay on top of the action. Finally, an excellent page to have on deck is the SBS best bonus betting sites rundown. Here you can find a catalog of the best welcome bonus promotions and tips for getting the most out of your wagers.
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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