Senate to Decide Fate of Alabama Gaming Package; Vote Set for Thursday
The decision on the Alabama gaming package, which was reached by a joint committee of three House representatives and three senators, awaits the Legislature's upper chamber.
State Senator Greg Albritton (R-Atmore), the primary sponsor of the Senate's gaming bill and a participant in the joint committee, noted that the fate of the compromise now lies in the hands of the lawmakers.
At a lighter note, he joked, "I know we have managed to make everyone angry. But that's progress. I appreciate everyone's efforts."
The committee had ironed out their differences, recommending that Alabama expand its gaming options to include as many as seven racinos with slot machines and electronic gaming, but no live dealer table games. Four of these racinos would be located in Jefferson, Mobile, Macon, and Greene counties' former greyhound racetracks.
The Peach Band of Creek Indians are advised to negotiate and accept a Class III gaming compact with the State. This would allow them to add slots and live dealer table games to their existing bingo-based gaming resorts in Atmore, Montgomery, and Wetumpka.
Furthermore, the committee proposed the establishment of a state-run lottery, allowing Alabama participation in Mega Millions and Powerball.
To approve the gambling expansion, there must be a three-fifths majority support in both houses. The House promptly passed two bills, HB151 and HB152, with the necessary majority votes.
HB151 is responsible for initiating the gaming referendum, while HB152 sets the foundation for regulating the expanded gaming activities. Both bills require the same level of support.
Both bills shifted to the Senate late Tuesday.
With a vote of 20-15 on HB151, five additional votes were needed to reach the mandated three-fifths majority. This led to confusion over the bill's status, causing some lawmakers to assume it had failed.
However, Senate Secretary Pat Harris clarified that the vote was only to adopt the conference committee report, not to authorize the gaming referendum. The Senate will proceed to another vote tomorrow, explained Reed, expecting a more solid support.
Albritton surprisingly sided against the committee's decision to not permit the Peach Band of Creek Indians to expand beyond their bingo-centric casinos. He expressed concerns regarding the potential negative impact on the tribe's economy, as the bill excludes any commercial casino options for them. This tribe, the only federally recognized tribe in Alabama, operates Wind Creek Atmore Casino in Albritton's district.
If the Senate reaches the mandatory 21 votes tomorrow for HB151/152, a special election would be held on August 20. This would give citizens a chance to vote for or against the proposed gambling expansion package.
Republican leaders in Alabama find it unsuitable to hold the referendum during the November general election. They fear that the election, which decides the state's presidential nominee and the representative of the newly drawn 2nd Congressional District, could result in stronger Democratic voter turnout.
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Source: www.casino.org
