One state lawmaker feels there’s too much resistance
The proposal for an Alabama lottery and other gaming regulated by the state will have to wait at least another week before advancing in the Legislature.
Representative Chris Blackshear is the House sponsor of the bill and says his chamber is in the early review stages of the comprehensive changes made by the Senate two weeks ago. Lawmakers returned to the floor on Tuesday after being off last week.
The House approved Blackshear’s bills on February 15 and would put the decision to permit a lottery, legal sports betting and up to ten casinos into the hands of voters. Casinos have been proposed for Birmingham, Mobile, Macon County, Greene County, Houston County and Lowndes County.
The remaining four casinos would come through a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians to operate casinos on tribal lands in Atmore, Wetumpka and Montgomery, which currently provide electronic bingo. The fourth casino would be in northeast Alabama on non-tribal lands.
The Senate version approved on March 7 includes the lottery without mentioning sports betting. The Senate also removed most of the proposed casinos while still calling for a compact with the Poarch Creeks. The proposal would permit gambling at seven other venues, Alabama’s four retired greyhound tracks, and three other locations in Greene, Lowndes and Houston counties.
Both the Senate and House bills would establish a gambling commission with a law enforcement division to regulate statewide gambling.
The House must either concur with the Senate plan or send the legislation to a conference committee to attempt a compromise that both chambers can accept.
Authorizing gambling in Alabama requires a constitutional amendment that voters must first approve.
