Alabama gaming bill likely dead for 2024, sponsor laments failure to let voters decide
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — There is one meeting day left for the Alabama Legislature in 2024 and it looks like – once again – a lottery and gaming bill will not be approved and put before voters.
This year, Gov. Ivey spoke up in support of gaming legislation and the Alabama House passed a measure just a week after it was introduced. The House also approved a compromise bill last week.
But the Alabama Senate seems to have closed the door. The compromise measure approved by the House, lost in the Senate by one vote last week. Under Senate rules, it could be brought to the floor again, but that’s unlikely to happen.
Alabama Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur told News 19 Wednesday a gaming-lottery bill for 2024 is dead.
“I think the gambling bill is well underground by now,” Orr said.
Alabama Rep. Andy Whitt, R-Harvest, who co-sponsored the gaming bill, has said it is necessary to accomplish two things, crack down on widespread illegal gaming in the state and to give voters a chance to decide the issue. Whitt said when constituents approach him, they raise the idea of a lottery vote with him more than any other topic.
Whitt expressed frustration Wednesday over how the process played out.
“At this point, I am really unsure of exactly what the Senate is doing or the direction they are heading,” he said. “The House has passed the gaming legislation twice and now it’s totally up to the Senate to allow the people to vote. My grandmother always told me, the only thing more dangerous than ignorance is arrogance.”
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Four of the five state senators who represent Madison County voted against it. Senator Steve Livingston voted for it, but Senators Tom Butler, Sam Givhan, Wes Kitchens and Arthur Orr opposed it.
“I haven’t supported the expansion of gaming,” Orr said. “I think the people of Alabama deserve – want and deserve a lottery vote — however the bill is always hijacked by gambling interests wanting to expand gaming in the state. And, so I’m committed to pushing next session for that lottery bill that just gives the citizens the right to vote on the lottery. And, for increasing the penalties for all the pop-up video bingo halls that are around the state.”
Any gaming or lottery bill would ultimately have to be approved by voters through a constitutional amendment.
The final House-approved bill included a lottery where proceeds go to education funding and seven electronic gaming casinos at existing bingo sites and dog tracks in Alabama.
The original bill included casino table games and sports betting. Still, those games were eliminated from the compromise bill fashioned by a conference committee of three Senators and three House Representatives.
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians would have been allowed to have full casinos a the tribe’s three existing properties. The original bill passed by the House called for a compact between the tribe and Gov Ivey that would have also allowed a new casino at an unspecified location in northeast Alabama.
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