Six Alabama Democrats want to let the voters decide whether sports betting and other forms of gaming should be legal in the state, but they face opposition.
SB 257 would require a referendum that would allow the legislature to legalize a state lottery, in-person casinos and sports betting. It would create a gaming commission to license and regulate all gaming in Alabama.
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians could also negotiate a gaming compact with Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 257 is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Tourism Committee.
Alabama sports betting faces long odds
Unfortunately for those residents hoping to get a say in legalizing gambling in their state, Alabama’s Senate has not had much of an appetite for gambling in the past.
The House passed a bill in 2024 only to see it killed in the Senate. Following the failure, Alabama House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels said the next effort to legalize gambling will have to come from the Senate.
Sen. Greg Albritton attempted to legalize sports betting in 2022 and noted last year that the votes were still not there.
That does not appear to be any different this year. Republican Alabama Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger declared a similar measure dead in 2025 and does not think the appetite is there this year, either, according to local news outlet Yellowhammer News.
“In the Senate – and I’ll speak for our colleagues up there right now – I’m not sure the votes are there,” Gudger said. “And I’m not bringing something that’s going to suck all the oxygen out of the room unless we know we have the votes.”
Gudger: no negotiations allowed
According to Gudger, the sponsors say there is no changing the bill, which ends the non-conversation there for him.
“So we’re going back and forth,” Gudger told Yellowhammer News. “We’ve had some people step up and say, ‘Hey, we’re thinking about bringing this legislation this year.’ And I said, ‘Well, let’s talk about that.’ We’ve been on conference calls, talking about it.
“They said, ‘Well, we want to keep the bill just like it is.’ I said, ‘First of all, you’ve been here long enough to realize you’re not able to keep any bill exactly where you want it. That’s just not how this works.’ And number two: if it changes, are you a yes vote or a no vote? Because you’re telling me you’re a yes vote — but if it changes, what’s going to happen?
“And they said, ‘Well, we don’t want it to change, so we’re probably a no vote.’ I said, ‘Well, that means we don’t have enough votes to bring it forward, so please don’t do that if that’s the case.’”
