Alabama Sports Betting Bill Slated for Committee
State Senate Guts Bill Passed by House
Sports betting isn’t having an easy time in the Alabama Legislature. Despite the House approving a bill in February that would put the topic before voters, the Senate shot it down. As a result, the bill is being sent to a conference committee, hoping to find a middle ground. The Alabama sports betting bill slated for the committee could be worked on this week.
The House passed a bill in February that would allow sports betting, a state lottery, and 10 casinos through a constitutional amendment. Three of the casinos would be on Poarch Band of Creek Indians property. Six others were slated for specific counties, with the final casino being run by the Poarch Board of Creek Indians off tribal property. Sports betting could be done at retail establishments or through online gambling.
When the bill passed the House, legislators thought it was something the people of Alabama should get to decide. Betting trends are showing neighboring states doing very well with casinos and sports betting.
“The people want a chance to vote,” House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter said at the time. “If they vote for it, good. If they vote against it, that’s their choice. But at least they’ve got a voice.”
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey shared the sentiment about letting the Alabama voters decide if they want increased gambling opportunities.
“I have long said the people of Alabama deserve to have another say on gaming, and today’s passage of HB151 and HB152 in the House is an important step forward and very significant, as this has not been accomplished by the House in years,” she said in a statement.
Senate Removes Key Parts
When the House sent its passed bills to the Senate, the Senate removed the sports betting provision and lowered the number of casinos allowed. It did leave in a lottery, electronic gambling at dog tracks. The Senate bill also required all casinos to be on tribal property. It did allow for Gov. Ivey to negotiate a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
The House rejected the Senate’s changes and now the Alabama sports betting bill slated for the conference committee could be in jeopardy.
“The optimism is gone,” said Sen. Greg Albritton. “There is plenty of middle ground. There is plenty of opportunity. What we are battling is entrenchment.”
Rep. Chris Blackshear, the House sponsor of the bill said there is a wide gap between what the House and Senate passed, although he was hopeful the Alabama sports betting bill slated for the conference could find a middle ground.
“I think we’ve got to identify what that middle ground is first because it’s such a distance between the two,” he said. “They’re not even close bookends. So we’ve got to first off establish what that middle ground looks like and then have those conversations.”
House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter was hopeful the two branches of the Legislature would be able to find a workable compromise. He said it was important to get the matter in front of voters and let them decide.
“If one thing has been made clear throughout this process, it’s that the people of Alabama want and deserve an opportunity to vote on this issue,” he said in a statement.
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