Alabama’s gambling law likely dead for 2024, sponsor complains voters failed to make decision

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – There is just one day left for the Alabama Legislature to meet in 2024 and it looks like – once again – a lottery and gambling bill will not be approved and put before voters.

This year, Governor Ivey spoke in favor of gambling legislation and the Alabama House of Representatives passed a measure just a week after it was introduced. The House also passed a compromise bill last week.

But the Alabama Senate appears to have closed the door. The compromise measure approved by the House lost by one vote in the Senate last week. Under Senate rules, it could be brought up again, but that is unlikely.

Alabama Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, told News 19 on Wednesday that a gambling lottery bill is dead for 2024.

“I think the gambling law is completely underground now,” Orr said.

Alabama Rep. Andy Whitt, R-Harvest, who co-sponsored the gambling bill, said it was necessary to accomplish two things: crack down on widespread illegal gambling in the state and give voters a chance to decide the issue . Whitt said when voters contact him, they bring up the idea of ​​a lottery vote more than any other issue.

Whitt expressed frustration Wednesday with how the trial was going.

“At this point, I’m really not sure what exactly the Senate is doing or what direction it’s going,” he said. “The House of Representatives has passed the gambling bill twice and now it is entirely up to the Senate to allow the people to vote. My grandmother always told me that the only thing more dangerous than ignorance is arrogance.”

Four of the five state senators representing Madison County voted against it. Senator Steve Livingston voted in favor, but Senators Tom Butler, Sam Givhan, Wes Kitchens and Arthur Orr opposed it.

“I did not support the expansion of gaming,” Orr said. “I think the people of Alabama deserve – want and deserve – a lottery vote, but the bill is always hijacked by gambling interests that want to expand gambling in the state. That’s why I’m committed to advancing the lottery bill next session, which simply gives citizens the right to vote on the lottery. And for increasing penalties for all pop-up video bingo halls across the state.”

Any gambling or lottery bill would ultimately have to be approved by voters through a constitutional amendment.

The final bill approved by the House of Representatives included a lottery with proceeds going to fund education and seven electronic casinos at existing bingo locations and dog tracks in Alabama.

The original bill included casino table games and sports betting. Nevertheless, those games were removed from the compromise draft drafted by a conference committee of three senators and three House representatives.

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians would have been permitted to have full casinos on the tribe’s three existing properties. The original bill passed by the House of Representatives included a treaty between the tribe and Governor Ivey that would also have allowed for a new casino at an unspecified site in northeast Alabama.