The Alabama legislative session ended without a final vote on a gambling bill, disappointing many lawmakers, including Gov. Kay Ivey. The bill had passed in the House but a scaled-back version failed in the Senate, leading to a 25-year stalemate on the issue. The House-approved bill would have allowed a lottery, sports betting, and up to 10 casinos with slot machines and table games, while the Senate approved a stricter version that only included a lottery and betting on replays of horse races. Despite efforts to come to a compromise, the bill was not approved, and voters will not have the opportunity to vote on gambling within the state this year.
Gov. Kay Ivey expressed disappointment in the outcome and stated that she wanted people to have the chance to vote on the issue. However, without lawmakers reaching an agreement, she deemed a special session on the subject as pointless. The bill’s sponsor, Republican Rep. Chris Blackshear, believed that passing the bill would have provided the state with more money for education, roads, and other needs. The failure of the bill to pass was frustrating for many lawmakers who felt that the state was missing out on potential revenue, as residents were traveling to neighboring states to purchase lottery tickets.
The last time Alabamians voted on gambling was in 1999 when a proposal by then-Gov. Don Siegelman was rejected by voters. Since then, multiple efforts have been made to establish gambling opportunities in the state, but debates over casinos and electronic gambling machines have caused bills to stall. Republican House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter mentioned that people want the chance to vote on the issue. Democrat Rep. Barbara Drummond expressed frustration, stating that it was time to stop playing games of special interests and start looking out for the people who elected them.
The bill approved by the House would have allowed a wide range of gambling options, including a lottery, sports betting, and casinos. However, the Senate approved a more limited version that only included a lottery and betting on horse races. The conference committee proposed a compromise that would have authorized a lottery and slot machines at seven locations, but it did not win approval in the Senate. This lack of agreement led to the bill’s failure to pass, continuing the stalemate on gambling in Alabama. Republican Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed stated that the Senate did not have the votes to approve the conference committee’s proposal, leading to the bill’s eventual defeat.
Lawmakers on both sides expressed frustration at the bill’s failure to pass, with some emphasizing the potential benefits of increased revenue for the state. Supporters of the bill argued that allowing gambling would keep money in Alabama that was currently being spent in neighboring states. The ongoing debate over gambling in Alabama has prevented the state from tapping into this potential revenue source, leaving lawmakers feeling disappointed and frustrated. Despite efforts to push the bill through, the lack of agreement among legislators has led to a continued impasse on the issue, with no immediate resolution in sight.
