- The Alabama Senate Tourism Committee stripped sports betting from two expansive gaming bills
- The committee moved the bills forward to the Senate floor
- House of Representatives may not approve changes
The Alabama Senate Tourism Committee yesterday moved two gaming bills out of committee to the Senate floor, but sports betting hopefuls may not like what they see.
The committee passed both HB 151 and HB 152, but stripped sports betting from the legislation and greatly reduced the number of casinos the state would see. Sen. Greg Albritton (R-22) presented the changes at yesterday’s committee meeting.
The bills now allow for up to three tribal casinos, a state lottery, parimutuel wagering, and historical horse racing.
Sports Betting Stripped from Package
Changes were hinted at for the gaming bills during Tourism committee meeting last week and they became a reality on Tuesday afternoon. The original gaming bills called for up to 10 casinos in the state, in-person and online sports betting, and a state lottery.
Now, sports betting is entirely stripped from the gaming packages and only three tribal casinos will be allowed. The state lottery still remains in the legislation, as well as parimutuel wagering on horse and dog races at seven facilities. Historical horse racing will also be allowed at those seven facilities as well.
When asked why sports betting was not being addressed in these bills, Albritton said the answer was simple.
“The reason for it, frankly, is we do not have the votes to get those incorporated here. So what we have is a reduced package from what we received from the House to accommodate and to match what we can vote to get through,” he said.
The legalization of sports betting was holding up the gaming package, Albritton said.
The state is leaving money on the table by not including sports betting in this legislation, Sen. Bobby Singleton (D-24) said during the committee meeting. State residents are betting with unregulated, illegal offshore sports betting services and Alabama is losing out on tax revenues.
“We’re leaving a whole lot of money in the state. We know it’s going on in this state on a regular basis. Can someone explain that to me?”
Despite his protests, and a few others from several committee members, the bills received a favorable report and were moved to the Senate floor. The Senate will have to approve the legislation by a three-fifths majority since a constitutional amendment is required for passage.
If approved by the Senate, the bills will be sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence on the changes. The House is unlikely to agree to the sweeping changes, so the legislation may then head to a conference committee for Senate and House representatives to work through their differences on the bills.
New Gaming Bill Details
With sports betting stripped and the number of casinos reduced in the bills, what exactly do the new gaming bills now contain?
The legislation will do the following:
- Creates a state lottery
- Creates the Alabama Gaming Commission to regulate the lottery and gaming
- Allows for parimutuel wagering on dog and horse races at four racetracks in Greene, Jefferson, Macon and Mobile counties, at two bingo halls in White Hall and Houston County, and one more facility in Greene
- All seven of these facilities will also be able to offer historical horse racing
- Requires governor to negotiate a gaming compact with Poarch Band of Creek Indians
- Allows for up to three tribal casinos
In a surprising turn of events, the Alabama Senate Committee has decided to remove sports betting from proposed gaming legislation. This decision comes after months of debate and speculation about the future of sports betting in the state.
The proposed gaming legislation, which aimed to legalize and regulate various forms of gambling in Alabama, including sports betting, had been met with both support and opposition from lawmakers and residents alike. Proponents of the bill argued that legalizing sports betting would bring in much-needed revenue for the state and create new opportunities for economic growth. However, opponents raised concerns about the potential negative impacts of gambling on society, such as addiction and crime.
After much deliberation, the Senate Committee ultimately decided to remove sports betting from the bill, citing a lack of consensus among lawmakers and concerns about the potential risks associated with expanding gambling in the state. While this decision may come as a disappointment to those who were hoping to see sports betting legalized in Alabama, it reflects the complex and often contentious nature of the debate surrounding gambling legislation.
Moving forward, it remains to be seen what the future holds for sports betting in Alabama. Some lawmakers have indicated that they will continue to push for its legalization in future legislation, while others may be content to leave the issue unresolved. In any case, the decision to remove sports betting from the proposed gaming legislation is sure to spark further debate and discussion among lawmakers and residents alike.
