The Alabama Senate could take up the controversial gambling issue on Thursday. A package of bills would establish 10 casinos in the state.
Senate Bills 293 (SB 293) and 294 (SB294) are a proposed Constitutional amendment and its accompanying enabling legislation. Both are sponsored by State Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore).
SB293 is the Constitutional amendment. This bill is closely based on a bill that failed in the House of Representatives last year.
The bill sets up an Alabama Gaming Commission which would also have authority over online fantasy gaming which the legislature has already allowed to operate in the state. It would establish a state lottery and also legalize sports betting. It requires the state to negotiate a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, which already operate three casinos in Alabama that have electronic bingo machines, including one in Albritton’s hometown of Atmore. The Albritton bill would create a special police force answerable only to the Alabama Gaming Commission. This armed force would enforce the dictates of the commission, including hunting down gambling establishments not licensed and authorized by the board. Casinos whose operations would be shut down by this legislation sent attorneys and lobbyists to the public hearing last week where they accused Albritton of “picking winners and losers.”
Both bills cleared the Senate Tourism Committee last Wednesday.
The legislature is limited to a maximum of 30 legislative days, and there are a maximum of eight legislative days left in the session. If the gambling bill cannot get out of the Senate and get to the House for its consideration Thursday when the Senate next goes into session, House members will have little opportunity to study, amend, and debate the bill.
Since SB293 is a Constitutional amendment, it requires a three-fifths supermajority in each House for passage. It would also have to be ratified by a vote of the people on the Nov. 8 General Election ballot. If the legislature cannot pass a gambling bill this year then the earliest the voters could get to vote on a gambling bill would be 2024.
Polls show that a large majority of Alabama voters support a lottery.
Critics of the bill point to the destructive social costs that gambling has on society and to the fact that the bill pre-selects who can or who cannot operate casinos in the state, rather than allowing the voters, the governor, or the gaming commission to make that determination.
Thursday will be Day 23 of the 2022 Alabama regular legislative session.
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