Alabama gambling bill stalled after Senate changes

An Alabama state senator who carried a gambling package in that chamber said the legislation is running into trouble.

Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, a longtime proponent of legalizing gambling, told reporters Thursday the gambling legislation remains in the House basket, meaning the chamber has not taken action on changes made by the Senate.

“That may be indicative of the difficulties that this fine piece of legislation faces,” Albritton said.

The House and Senate are sharply divided over the legislation, particularly over how much gambling each chamber is willing to accept.

The House version of the package — a constitutional amendment authorizing gambling and enabling legislation on regulation, enforcement and distribution — was developed by Reps. Chris

Blackshear, R-Smiths Station, and Andy Whitt, R-Harvest. It would create a state lottery and authorize casino-style gambling and sports betting at seven locations around the state.

The legislation also created a state commission to regulate gambling and directed Gov. Kay Ivey to negotiate a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, a federally recognized tribe that operates casinos in Atmore, Montgomery and Wetumpka.

Supporters said the bill could add up to $1.2 billion a year to state coffers. The House package would have allocated money from the lottery to education programs, including postsecondary scholarships, and casino and sports betting revenues to other programs, including mental health and a “rural health care” program that used language similar to Medicaid expansion. The Legislature would have the final say in spending the money.