- Lottery revenues would benefit higher education scholarships.
- Five casino licenses would be on offer, four of which would go to dog tracks.
- Sports betting would be allowed at casino gaming locations.
While the 2022 regular legislative session is almost over, new bills are still being introduced.
As promised, Senator Greg Albritton introduced a gambling package into legislation, set to legalize several areas of gambling.
A lottery is in the mix along with casino gaming, and sports betting. The senator feels that action needs to be taken now on the subject and waiting another year will not help the state move forward.
Similar to 2021 Legislation by Senator Del Marsh
The new bills introduced by Albritton (SB293 & SB294) is similar to a gaming plan submitted by Senator Del Marsh last year. The attempt last year was thwarted due to republican opinion regarding gaming and criticism from operators who felt they should be involved in the industry. Dog tracks and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians also caused the measure to be dissolved. Both shareholders cannot seem to get along and come to a compromise as to how the industry should function.
Issues surrounding last year’s bill included who many operators were allowed in the industry along with how revenues would be distributed. House members tried to offer a lottery-only measure before the session ended but was unsuccessful.
With only 12 days left in the regular session, Albritton will have to do some heavy convincing if the measure has a chance at moving forward. It seems unlikely given the standoffish nature of republican lawmakers in Alabama regarding gambling in the state.
Will the New Measure Work?
Albritton did try to cover a few of the issues from last year with his interpretation of the measure. One change includes allowing a satellite casino in Dothan and one in Lowndes County. These venues would be limited to just 300 machines. However, Representative Kelvin Lawrence says that plan would require shutting down a facility that already operates in Lowndes which would hurt the community.
The measure also lists a competitive bidding process for licensing regarding Alabama casino venues. It stipulates that casinos must be instituted at VictoryLand, GreeneTrack, Birmingham Race Course and Mobile Greyhound Park. The owners of the tracks have the right to make a final bid on a license as well, putting them at the forefront of earning approval to offer casino gaming.
The fifth casino license would go to the Poarch Band, allowing the tribe to create a casino in Jackson or Dekalb county. Casino owners must pay 20% tax on net gambling revenues. The bill does not list fiscal details at this point but estimates from 2021 by the Legislative Services Agency say that the lottery would generate $272 million to over $350 million each year.
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