Alabama’s House Economic Development and Tourism Committee moved forward an amended version of a sweeping gambling expansion package Wednesday, which is now headed to the full House for consideration. The bills, which were first introduced last week, would allow for statewide retail and online sports betting, up to 10 brick-and-mortar casino licenses, and a state-run lottery.
Should Alabama’s legislature approve the bill and Gov. Kay Ivey sign off on it, the state could be the first this year to legalize sports betting. The bill would not make online casino legal. If the bill becomes law, that would leave four states — Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah — without state lotteries.
An amendment in the fiscal note attached to Arizona in 2019, but did not gain any traction.
There are some cases in which a tribe has a separate commercial arm, like Pala Interactive (Pala Band of Mission Indians) in legal sports betting — in Florida.
HB 152 is the enabling legislation for the constitutional amendment, and contains the meat of the proposals.
Only one dissenter 523l61
Rep. Allen Treadway voted against the package of bills, and also asked multiple questions to sponsor Chris Blackshear. Most of the questions centered around the illegal gaming that is already happening in the state on black-market gaming machines. Treadway is concerned that the bills would allow illegal operators to continue to operate for several years before being required to shut down. Treadway said during the conversation that he would meet with Blackshear ahead of the bill being considered on the House floor with plans to pitch an amendment before the full chamber.
If ed, the new law would create the Alabama Gaming Commission and a gaming enforcement division, and would legalize wagering on professional, college, and amateur sports as well as on esports and video game events. It would also legalize exchange wagering, which is currently legal only in New Jersey, and only live in New Jersey.
The Poarch Creeks would be eligible for up to four casino licenses, one each for its three existing casinos and one for a proposed casino. The bill names six other locations locations — the city of Birmingham and the counties of Greene, Houston, Lowndes, Macon, and Mobile — that would be eligible to apply for commercial casino licenses.
Alabama’s legislative session is set to adjourn May 20, and there is no crossover deadline for bills to move legislation from one chamber to another.
