Could Lawmakers Bring Sports Betting to Alabama? It’s Possible

Alabama Sports Betting: State One of Five in U.S. Without Lottery

February 16, 20240 89 3 minutes readGambling News

Could Lawmakers Bring Sports Betting to Alabama? It's Possible — Alamy Stock Photo

What’s Under Consideration?
Safeguarding Against Illegal Activity
Joining a Growing List

Momentum appears to be growing for Alabama to legalize sports gambling.

This comes after the Alabama House Economic Development and Tourism Committee on Wednesday approved a two-bill package that would bring online sports betting, retail casinos, and a lottery to the state, as Alabama is currently one of five states without one.

Here’s more on the latest proposal for Alabama sports betting.

What’s Under Consideration?

HB151 is a constitutional amendment to legalize 10 casinos — three of which are currently operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians — sports betting, and lottery bingo. Legislation would also allow sports venues that attract 60,000 people or more, including Talladega Superspeedway, to get a three-day license to offer sports betting during an event. If the proposal passes through the Legislature, it would require voter approval on the ballot this November.

HB152, meanwhile, details how the lottery, casinos, and sports betting would operate, including an Alabama Gaming Commission to regulate, tax and license casinos. Estimates provided by the Legislative Services Agency said the state could receive up to $900 million from those entities.

Revenue from lottery proceeds would be put toward education costs, while revenue from sports betting and casinos would benefit a general fund for non-education expenses such as mental health, health care and road/bridge repairs.

A plan to allow an Alabama lottery, casinos, and legal sports betting advanced Wednesday in the Alabama House of Representatives.https://t.co/F3oDYQTx4R
— AL.com (@aldotcom) February 15, 2024

Some lawmakers see reason to capitalize.

“We have so many of our constituents that travel to the state lines, outside the state for lottery tickets, to go gaming,” Rep. Rolanda Hollis said via al.com. “And people are going to do what they’re going to do. And when they do this, it puts so much money into the other states. We’re putting kids in other states in school. We’re doing their infrastructure, so on, so on.”

Safeguarding Against Illegal Activity

Many lawmakers believe these bills would also help cut down on illegal gambling. Rep. Andy Whitt insisted that illegal gambling is occurring throughout the state, calling it “completely appalling.”

This would be the first opportunity for Alabama residents to vote on a lottery since it was rejected in 1999.

Rep. Allen Treadaway was the only person to vote no on both bills. Treadaway, a former assistant chief of the Birmingham Police Department, voiced concern about establishments finding ways around the safeguards to continue operating illegally.

“There’s some language in there that could possibly allow those that have been operating illegally for years to continue,” Treadaway said via al.com. “I want to make sure that we assure that’s not the case. So, I’m working with the sponsor of the bill to make sure that that happens.”

Joining a Growing List

Twenty-nine U.S. states, plus Washington, D.C., now offer online gambling for sports, with North Carolina set to launch next month in time for the NCAA Tournament. That includes neighboring states such as Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, and Tennessee.

If legislation were to pass, it’s possible Alabama would follow the lead of others in prohibiting bettors from wagering on in-state colleges. That would require residents to go outside the state to wager on, say, Alabama football or Auburn men’s basketball. Nevertheless, with passionate fan bases in several sports, including college football, college basketball and NASCAR, Alabama sports betting is positioned to flourish.

Stay tuned for more updates on Alabama sports betting.

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