A recent changing of the guard in Senate leadership likely doesn't change the prospects for approval of a gambling and lottery package in the 2025 session, according to State Sen. Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville).
The final version of a gambling and lottery package passed the House but fell short by one vote in the Senate in the final days of the 2024 session in May.
Since the last legislative session ended, Wind Creek Hospitality, owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, and the McGregor family, owners of Birmingham Race Course and Casino and Victoryland Casino, announced in November that they had entered into an agreement under which Wind Creek would acquire the Birmingham Race Course. The sale is expected to be finalized in early 2025.
Senate Republicans also recently nominated State Sen. Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) to be the new pro-tem. Senate Pro-Tem Greg Reed (R-Jasper) is resigning effective January 1 to serve as Gov. Kay Ivey's senior advisor for workforce transformation.
"I don't think that this election changes anything. I think Greg Reed leaving the body changes things. Now Greg hated gambling. I don't know why he voted for it, but he did. I know he didn't like it. It would be interesting to see is how the gambling forces come in and play in his replacement because of right now, and this is holding votes where they were, right now you have 14 no votes and one…everybody wants to talk about how it's one vote difference. That has changed now because a yes vote has left and a most likely no vote is coming in. That puts them back further on the pro-gambling front and you've got two senators that I think are going to change from at least this quadrennium from yes's to hard no's," Givhan, who voted against multiple lottery and gambling packages last session, said during an interview on Huntsville radio WVNN's "The Dale Jackson Show" on Thursday.
He continued, "The House has said repeatedly they're not going to start the bill and I don't see how the Senate, somebody may file one, but I don't see where it goes anywhere and you've got to remember once Greg leaves that is a no vote until there's a replacement with a person who will consider voting yes because you have to have affirmative votes."
"So, it's clearly a no vote there and then with our new caucus rule that says a majority of our caucus has to support a bill to go forward, you're just not there. You're not close to it. It's all fun to talk about. I'm not saying we don't talk about it, because we do. I don't mean you and me. I'm talking about my colleagues and I. I just don't see it coming forward. Everything I hear is that it's not coming forward this quadrennium because if it doesn't come forward this session, we know it's not going to come forward with any meaningful stuff in the last year because that's where it's going to be all powder puff stuff," Givhan added.
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