Negotiations Resume on Alabama Gambling Legislation
Two House Bills Are on the Table but Legislators Must Agree on Which to Move Forward

What’s Next for the Heart of Dixie?
Big betting news for Alabama! Lawmakers are back in session this week, and gambling legislation is back on the table. All through 2024, gambling has been a hot topic, with two major bills sparking debate.
House Bill 151 (HB151) aims to repeal all constitutional amendments permitting gambling in select areas of the state and abolish the state’s constitutional gambling prohibition. Meanwhile, House Bill 152 (HB152), sponsored by State Rep.
Chris Blackshear, initially proposed provisions legalizing casino gaming at specified locations, establishing a statewide lottery, and permitting online sports betting.
The Senate’s Amendments
Both bills passed the House with significant support and were subsequently passed by the Senate on March 8 with amendments that significantly altered the original legislation.
The Senate’s amendments include provisions for a statewide lottery and a mandate for the governor to negotiate a gambling compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PCI). However, the Senate’s version excludes sports betting, online gambling, or new non-PCI casinos, unlike the House’s proposal.
Lawmakers have a few choices now that the Senate’s changed bills are waiting for the House’s approval. Here are the options:
- Agree with the Senate: The House can simply say “yes” to the Senate’s versions of the bills.
- Disagree and negotiate: The House can say “no” and call for a special committee to work out the differences between the two versions.
- Put it on hold: They can also choose to do nothing for now, basically hitting the pause button on the whole thing.
State Rep. Chris Blackshear stated, “We’re meeting again this week… We just wanted to let people enjoy their break. We’ve got budgets and a bunch of important things coming up, but we’re going to take [gambling] up this week and start trying to get some direction.”
Uncertainty Looms
Lawmakers have been tight-lipped about potential compromises and the path forward, particularly given the narrow passage of the substituted Senate bill. Even if both chambers reach a compromise, the legislation will require approval from Governor Kay Ivey.
Governor Ivey initially expressed support for the gambling bills but has since stated that she will thoroughly review the amended legislation passed by the Senate.
Senator Greg Albritton voiced concerns about the anticipated outcome, stating, “I may be wrong, but my take on this is that the House does not have the votes to concur… That’s a very heavy lift.”
Even though talks are starting again, it’s still anyone’s guess what will happen with Alabama’s gambling laws. Lawmakers need to find a way to agree and work through all the complicated steps to get a workable solution on the table. We hope that soon it will become official that you can be betting online from The Heart of Dixie.
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