Summary:
- The House and Senate cannot agree on gambling expansion.
- House Representatives voted to send the bill to a conference committee.
- The Senate version does not allow casinos outside tribal lands or sports betting.
The battle for a gambling expansion in Alabama is intensifying. The State House successfully passed legislation that would allow casino gaming, sports betting, and a lottery in the state. However, the Senate introduced sweeping changes, limiting the expansion to only the lottery and casino gaming on tribal lands.
The House of Representatives’ rejection of the Senate’s changes to the gambling legislation is a significant development. The measure now heads to a committee for consideration, but this rejection could potentially hinder any form of expansion in the state due to the lack of agreement within the House and Senate.
Too Many Differences
Alabama is a conservative state so that already plays against expanding gambling in the state. Add to that the House and Senate’s major disagreement as to how the industry should expand, and you don’t have a winning combination.
Representatives voted to send the bill to a conference committee, and the optimism is now gone that any gambling expansion will occur in the state. Senator Greg Albritton stated that there is no hope of reaching a compromise between the two chambers. Some senators are taking a hard line against sports betting or allowing casinos.
Representative Chris Blackshear is the sponsor of the House bill. He stated that the Senate is leaving hundreds of millions of dollars of revenues on the floor due to the scaled-back bill.
Two Different Approaches
House members want to see a constitutional amendment to allow a lottery, sports betting, and casinos. Sports betting would be allowed online and in person. Based on the House measure, up to ten casinos would be allowed, with table games and slots provided.
The Senate version would allow for a state lottery, electronic wagering machines at racetracks, and a new compact set by the Governor and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. The compact could allow the tribe to offer full-scale casinos with table games at three different sites.
Any gambling proposal would need to be approved by 3/5 of the legislature and the majority of voters to become law. The state has not allowed residents to vote on a gambling expansion since 1999.
Most lawmakers are hopeful that a compromise can be found. Some middle ground must be reached, or the state will return to square one with minimal gambling and no way to upgrade education or provide other programs to assist residents via industry funds.
The millions of dollars that gambling could bring would easily help the state to increase its education funding. Right now, schools in Alabama lack assistance, and students are falling behind, with the state at the bottom of the list regarding education.
Any type of gambling would be able to help students have a brighter future with educational assistance, thanks to an additional revenue stream in the state.
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