Senate version of Alabama gaming bill bars sports betting, says no new casinos

Brian Lawson
·2 min read

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Just a month ago, the Alabama House saw a gaming bill introduced and it passed that body in a week’s time.

The proposed constitutional amendment called for seven new casinos, sports betting and a lottery. Then the bill went to the Alabama Senate and things slowed down.

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A proposed constitutional amendment requires the votes of 21 senators – three-fifths of the 35-member senate – before it can go to voters. The slowdown in the Senate indicated supporters didn’t have 21 votes and changes were inevitable.

Those changes were spelled out Tuesday in an amended bill that was approved by the Senate Tourism Committee.

Unlike the House bill, the Senate bill does not allow sports betting. It calls for one-third of lottery proceeds to be used for education purposes, while the House bill uses all lottery proceeds for education and game operations.

Under the Senate proposal there would be no new casinos in northeast Alabama, Birmingham or Mobile – as the House bill allows.

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The Senate bill does allow horse and dog track betting at existing sites in Greene, Jefferson, Macon, and Mobile counties, but no bingo or other games.

The Senate bill would allow full casinos at existing Poarch Band of Creek Indian sites in Atmore, Montgomery and Wetumpka, if a deal is reached with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

The House bill that passed with strong support obviously goes much further and would generate more tax revenue. Governor Kay Ivey has expressed support for the House version. It’s not clear how the Senate bill will fare in the House, if it passes the Senate.

Senator Greg Albritton (R-Atmore), the bill’s Senate sponsor, told News 19 Wednesday the Senate may vote on the measure Thursday.

One other proposed change in the Senate version would have the proposed constitutional amendment for gaming voted on in a special election on Sept. 10, while the House version would put the measure on the November general election ballot

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