While Alabama sports betting legalization chatter has remained low this session, a major local political show reports the talks are ongoing.
Senate Majority Leader Steve Livingston told Alabama Public Television’s Capitol Journal last week that Alabama sports betting and gambling conversations are happening behind the scenes. Livingston also noted that the required three-fifths majority vote is a significant hurdle.
“I think some votes are being counted,” Livingston told Capitol Journal. “You know, with the loss of, not the loss of Senator Reed, but when Senator Reed is stepping down to become Secretary Reed, that’s a yes vote that is gone. So we didn’t need one vote. Now we need two. So we’ll see what happens with that.”
The legislative session runs until May 15. Even if the Alabama legislature passes gambling legislation, the public would still need to approve the issue on the ballot.
Alabama conversations always happening
Livingston has been in the legislature since 2014, and during his tenure, there has been just one session without gambling legalization conversations. Alabama’s main pushes have been around a lottery, as it is one of five states without one.
Last month, Sen. Greg Albritton, who has authored gambling legislation in previous sessions, told the Capitol Journal there are not enough votes for the issue. Legislative packages have included lottery, sports betting and casino gambling.
Last year, the House passed gambling legislation only to see the Senate kill it. Heading into this year’s session, House leadership said any effort would need to start in the Senate.
Gov. Ivey: Give voters the choice on Alabama sports betting
Gov. Kay Ivey said last week that she wants voters to have a chance to vote on the issue.
She supported the gambling package the House passed last session. She has held press conferences in the past after gambling failures.
Ivey created a Study Group on Gambling Policy in 2020 that informed previous legislative efforts. The study group estimated the state could raise up to $700 million in taxes from sports betting, casinos and lottery.
Could tribal input help?
AL.com reported this month that the Poarch Band of Creek Indians wants a bill with sports betting and table games legislation. The tribe owns three Class II casino resorts on tribal land, which means table games are not allowed.
Last year, the tribe announced it was purchasing the Birmingham Race Course Casino. The Poarch Creeks also hired Fine Geddie, a powerful lobbying firm in Alabama.
Tribal leadership, however, is receiving mixed messages from the legislature.
“Depending on who I talk to one day, my odds are 70-30. The next day, they may be 30-70,” Arthur Mothershed, the Poarch Creek EVP of business development and government relations, told AL.com on the chances of gambling legislation passing in 2025.
