MONTGOMERY, Ala. — An Alabama Senate committee on Tuesday significantly altered legislation for proposed gambling options and venues from what its House counterparts had previously approved.
The scale back was required to get the needed GOP support to pass it in the Senate, sponsor Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, told Alabama Daily News.
That vote on the Senate floor could happen as early as today or Thursday. The required constitutional amendment needs a yes vote from at least 21 of the 35 senators.
Unlike what the House passed last month, the new versions of House Bill 151 and House Bill 152 do not allow for sports and online gambling. They do allow for a possible compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians that could lead to expanded casino-style gambling at its three existing facilities, but that would be the only table games allowed in the state. Existing dog tracks could continue parimutuel operations and simulcasts but those with electronic bingo, which mimics slot machines, would have to get rid of it, Albritton explained to reporters after the vote. Any slot-like machines would have to run on simulated dog or horse races, not bingo.
“We’re putting everyone on a level playing field,” he said.
Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, said in committee if the Poarch Creek’s three sites, which currently only offer electronic games, had table games, they’d be more attractive to potential visitors than the pari-mutual sites.
Several senators have said they want a lottery bill but were less supportive of the other gambling options in the original bill.
“We’re losing millions of dollars every year that are going across the state line as far as lottery tickets,” Sen. Randy Price, R-Opelika, the committee chair, said. “My district, it borders the state of Georgia, and I’ve heard from quite a few of my mayors that they’re losing a lot of revenue because when people go across that state line, not only do they buy groceries and do other things while they’re there, but what drove them across that state line? To buy that lottery ticket.”
While this new version may be palatable to the Senate, it would again need House approval of the changes. Rep. Andy Whitt, R-Harvest, who helped usher the bill through that chamber, said Tuesday night he hadn’t had a chance to review the new bills. Comments from House leadership and Gov. Kay Ivey, who has advocated for the House’s version, were not available Tuesday night.
The bills were posted to the legislative website later Tuesday night.
The changes represent significantly less revenue for the state. The original proposal, which would allow for up to 10 casinos with table games, a lottery and sports betting, would generate for the state $635 million to $913 million per year, according to the Legislative Services Agency. Albritton said estimates on the new proposal are about $350 million per year.
Like the House version, this legislation undoes previous local constitutional amendments that have allowed a patchwork of gambling around the state.
Another significant change? When Alabamians could vote on the measure, as is required to change the state constitution to allow gambling The original proposal was for the general election, Nov. 5. The substitutes say a special election would be held in September. Some Republicans previously told Alabama Daily News there was a concern the gaming proposal would drive voter turnout enough to impact races on the November ballot.
“That’s what I had to do to get the votes,” Albritton said about the change.
The new bill also removes most suggested uses for the state revenue from the lottery and gambling and says that through March 30, 2029, all proceeds would go to the state’s General Fund, Albritton said. After that, it’d be split into thirds to the General Fund, education and roads and bridges, he said.
Alabama Daily News’ Alexander Willis contributed to this report.