Alabama sports betting bill remains alive
State senator pleads for greater cooperation after current proposals hit wall of opposition
A state Senate bill that would authorize a referendum to legalize sports betting in Alabama in November has faced significant opposition from lawmakers, but the bill’s sponsor was able to have the proposal carried over to a future meeting.
State Senator Greg Albritton indicated during the hearing of the Alabama Senate Tourism Committee, last Wednesday, February 28, that he would be amenable to accepting any amendments proposed by reluctant legislators if it ultimately meant getting the bill passed.
“As long as Alabama leaves on the ground what we have now, we are running in unregulated, untamed land, and we’ll be doing more and more harm as we go,” Albritton said, referring to the current state of affairs as “The Wild, Wild West.”
The senator continued: “I [agree to delay a committee vote] with the seriousness of the point that if we are going to get this done, we need to have cooperation and compromise on both sides – we cannot have separate people and individuals running through and running over.
“I want that other side, whoever they may be, to come to the table and compromise and work with me,” he added.
State Governor Kay Ivey remains a tentative supporter of the gambling legalization bill, but it’s not clear what adjustments she would need to sign such a bill into law in 2025 should voters give it their approval later this year.
The larger sticking point against the 60% ‘yes’ vote required by state legislators to move forward with a Constitutional amendment may be the language included in a bill recently passed by the House, which outlined plans for several fully fledged commercial casinos to open in the state.
Alabama is one of only six states that do not currently have such properties, and one of only five states that does not feature a state lottery.
A dozen states, including Alabama, do not yet offer sports betting.