- An Alabama Senator revealed he does not have necessary votes for sports betting bill
- Senator says legislation is two or three votes short to move out of Senate
- Senator noted bets were being placed in State House on Jalen Hurts, Eagles for Super Bowl
An Alabama Senator revealed on Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5’s “The Jeff Poor Show” that he does not have the votes to pass a sports betting bill in the Senate.
Sen. Greg Albritton (R-22) said during an appearance on last week’s “The Jeff Poor Show” that he is two to three votes shy of being able to pass a piece of sports betting legislation out of the Senate. Ironically, he noted that bets were being made in the State House on former Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles for the Super Bowl.
“I would have a bill today dropped if I had 21 votes in the Senate,” he said.
Sports Betting Must Start in Senate
Sports betting gained momentum in Alabama last year in the House of Representatives, as lawmakers approved two bills 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.
The bills required a constitutional amendment to legalize the new forms of gambling, which state voters would have had to approved during the general election.
However, prior to the start of this session House leaders noted that sports betting legislation would have to originate in the Senate.
Unfortunately, Albritton said an appetite for sports betting has yet to reveal itself in the Senate, despite lawmakers actively placing bets on the recent Super Bowl.
“I don’t have 21 votes in the Senate. I’ve got to have 21 votes in the Senate to move this along. And keep in mind now, last week, before Sunday’s Super Bowl, bets were being made in the State House, I’ll say it that way, on the upcoming Super Bowl. Bets were being made. I think Jalen Hurts made a lot of money for people in Alabama in that win,” Albritton said during the show.
The state, he said, has a moral obligation to regulate sports betting and protect its consumers.
Senate Blocked 2024 Sports Betting Efforts
The House threw sports betting to the Senate for the 2025 session after the legislative body blocked efforts in 2024.
After the House approved two gaming bills, the Senate quickly dashed hopes for its chances after stripping all sports betting language from the bills. The Senate Tourism Committee entirely stripped sports betting from the gaming packages, leaving only the approval of three tribal casinos, a state lottery, and pari-mutuel wagering on horse and dog races at seven state tracks.
The Alabama Senate eventually approved the bills, but the House did not concur with the expansive changes and requested a conference committee to work through their disagreements.
The conference committee submitted a report to the House that included amended bills allowing a state lottery and up to seven licensed slot parlors in Alabama. The conference report, however, did not include the legalization of full casinos, table games, or sports betting in the Yellowhammer State.
The House approved the amended bills, but they eventually stalled out in the Senate, with reports claiming they were one vote short of approval.
As of the latest update, the current status of sports betting legislation in the Alabama Senate is facing a major roadblock due to insufficient votes available. The bill, which would legalize and regulate sports betting in the state, has been met with mixed reactions from lawmakers and stakeholders.
The legislation, known as Senate Bill 214, has been a hot topic of debate in the Senate for several weeks now. Proponents of the bill argue that legalizing sports betting would generate much-needed revenue for the state and provide a safe and regulated environment for sports bettors. They also point to the success of neighboring states that have already legalized sports betting, such as Mississippi and Tennessee.
However, opponents of the bill have raised concerns about the potential negative impacts of legalizing sports betting, such as increased problem gambling and addiction rates. Some lawmakers have also expressed reservations about expanding gambling in the state and believe that more research and public input is needed before moving forward with the legislation.
Despite these concerns, supporters of the bill remain hopeful that they can secure enough votes to pass the legislation in the Senate. They argue that legalizing sports betting would bring much-needed revenue to the state, create jobs, and help boost the economy.
As of now, it remains unclear when or if the bill will come up for a vote in the Senate. Lawmakers on both sides of the issue continue to engage in discussions and negotiations in an effort to secure the necessary votes to move the legislation forward.
In conclusion, the current status of sports betting legislation in the Alabama Senate is uncertain due to insufficient votes available. Supporters and opponents of the bill continue to debate the potential benefits and drawbacks of legalizing sports betting in the state. It remains to be seen whether the bill will ultimately pass in the Senate and become law.
