Alabama Lottery and Casino Bills Head to Legislative Conference Committee

Alabama lottery and casino bill heads to legislative conference committee

Alabama legislation that would create a state lottery and Las Vegas-style casino games, including slot machines, table games and possibly sports betting, will formally go before a conference committee.

Next week, state Senate and House leaders will each appoint three Conference Committee members. The purpose of the meeting was to resolve differences between the two chambers on gambling laws passed this legislative year.

I think we need to figure out what the middle ground is first because there's a big distance between the two," said Rep. Chris Blackshear (R-Lee).

Blackshear was a major sponsor of the original House gambling package (House Bills 151 and 152). Part of the legislation would expand gambling in the Cotton State, while another would establish the Alabama Gaming Commission to regulate the industry.

"They're not even bookends. So we need to first figure out what the middle ground looks like and then have those conversations," Blackshear explained.

Alabama is one of only four states without a lottery, commercial casinos or sports betting. The others are Alaska, Hawaii and Utah.

Significant differences

Alabama House lawmakers in February sent a gambling package to the Senate that would authorize lotteries and up to six commercial casinos and allow the state's only federally recognized tribe, the Poach Creek Tribe of Indians. , opening an electronic bingo resort, a Las Vegas-style casino in Las Vegas. Slots and live dealer table games. The House version of HB 151/152 also provides for retail and online sports betting.

The Poach Indians operate Tier I and Tier II tribal casinos in Atmore, Montgomery and Wetupka. The House gambling legislation would also give the tribe the opportunity to explore a fourth casino on non-government land in the northern part of the state.

The Senate disagreed with the House's game plan and made significant changes to the plan before returning the measure to the lower chamber.

The Senate voted to eliminate sports betting and commercial casino components. The revised bill allows poaching Indians to negotiate a Class III gambling treaty with the governor, like the House version, but prohibits a fourth casino.

The Senate retained the implementation of the lottery and added Historic Horse Racing (HHR) machines to the state's four closed greyhound racing tracks. The Senate package also calls for the opening of three additional pari-mutuel gaming locations that could also accommodate HHRs.

Voters have the final say

Each bill would need approval by three-fifths of the House and Senate as the gambling legislation is designed to trigger a referendum that will be put to voters in November. If the conference committee agrees to a compromise, the same majority support will be needed before a vote on the gaming issue can take place.

If one thing has been clear throughout this process, it's that the people of Alabama want and deserve the opportunity to vote on this issue," said House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville). "People Want to vote. This is what our survey shows. "

When a gambling law goes before voters, it only takes a simple majority vote to amend the Alabama Constitution and allow the proposed gambling.