In Alabama, gambling legislation approved in conference was passed by the House, but the Senate rejected it by one vote April 30. Supporters of the bill hoped to bring it back for another try, but that never happened.
The conference committee proposal would have authorized a state lottery and legalized electronic games of chance, including slot machines and video poker at seven locations, including existing bingo sites and dog racetracks.
Pre-conference, the House version of the bill would have allowed a lottery, sports betting and up to 10 casinos statewide, plus a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians allowing a new casino. The Senate proposal eliminated sports betting and the new casinos, and only allowed a lottery.
State Senator Greg Albritton handled the bill in the Senate but ended up voting against it. He said the bill left his constituents, the Poarch Creeks, in a bad position.
Albritton said he might change his mind next year if he gets “a more palatable bill that he can vote for.” His primary reason for the no vote had to do with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians’ opposition to the conference proposal. Also, Albritton said he opposed the compromise because it eliminated sports betting and did not include regulation of online gambling. “We have not done anything to control, restrict, oversee or tax that. Those are two growing portions of the industry that we just ignore with this bill,” he said.
State Rep. Andy Whitt, R-Harvest, gaming bill co-sponsor, said the legislation would help crack down on widespread illegal gaming in the state and give voters a voice on the issue. Whitt said more than any other topic, his constituents tell him they want a lottery vote, which last happened in 1999 and was rejected.
