There won’t be a lottery and gambling bill in this legislative session.
Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, put an end to speculation Thursday afternoon. Negotiations about a possible bill to allow Alabamians to vote on a statewide lottery and expanded gambling have happened largely behind closed doors, pushed by Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Range.
“With 12 meeting days remaining in the session, both budgets still awaiting approval, and other important bills and measures demanding focus and attention, the comprehensive gaming bill released today is simply too little, too late, and has too few votes to pass,” Gudger said about a draft bill Albritton pitched to his colleagues.
“I believe that passing a comprehensive gaming bill in the Senate will require engaging in long-term and intense negotiations among members and securing the needed votes and commitments well before a legislative session even begins.”
Albritton, who has led the GOP’s gambling bill efforts for several sessions, hadn’t yet filed a bill but had shared details with Alabama Daily News. He’d made some changes this week, dedicating $150 million in potential revenue for road projects, in an effort to win more support. A proposed constitutional amendment needs 21 yes votes in the Senate.
“We just don’t have the votes,” he told Alabama Daily News Thursday afternoon. “… Obviously the people I was talking to were telling me what they thought they wanted me to hear. But when they were behind closed doors, they said what they thought.”
He also said there are too many conflicting special interests in the debate.
Asked what he does now, he said nothing.
“I think we’re done for the session, and I also think we’re done for the quadrennium,” Albritton said.
Next year is an election year and the entire Legislature must run again. Lawmakers typically avoid controversial issues in election years.
“And I think I’m done with this too,” Albritton added. “(The gambling issue) has never had the full-throated (support), like the gas tax — difficult to do, hard to get, but you had a lot of resources, folks pulling together.”
In 2019, the GOP-led Legislature quickly approved a 10-cent per gallon gas tax increase championed by Gov. Kay Ivey. Most of the groundwork on that legislation was done before lawmakers got to Montgomery.
Albritton’s latest proposal would have put before voters in a September special election on legalizing lottery ticket sales, as well as Class II electronic gambling at six existing racetracks around the state. It would have legalized sports betting and included a to-be-negotiated compact between the state and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Gambling activities would have been taxed at 24%.
A House-approved gambling proposal dominated much of the 2024 legislative session before dying in the Senate. That led House leadership to say any new proposal needs to start in the Senate.
It’s been 26 years since Alabamians last voted on and rejected a lottery bill.