The Alabama State Assembly has approved a lottery, but not wagering on sporting events.
A legislative group in Alabama sent a revised gambling proposal to the House late on Tuesday (April 30), which the House accepted. The proposal will be sent to the Senate, and if approved by the Senate, voters will be able to decide if the state should establish a lottery and electronic chance games.
The Alabama House has passed a lottery and electronic chance games, but not gambling.
Betting on sporting events was not included in the proposal. The House approved the constitutional amendment HB 151 by a vote of 72 to 29, and the framework proposal HB 152 by a vote of 70 to 29.
The lottery is expected to start operating sometime in 2026.
Alabama is currently one of five states in the United States without a lottery. State voters rejected a measure to add a lottery in 1999. Three of Alabama’s four neighboring states offer some form of legal gambling on sporting events. Only Georgia does not have legal gambling. Tennessee and Florida offer statewide mobile gambling on sporting events.
Mississippi offers in-person gambling. A proposal to expand Mississippi gambling on sporting events to statewide mobile betting failed in a legislative group on Monday (April 29).
The Alabama House passed the lottery, simplifying the proposal.
Rep. Chris Blackshear said the group brought “our best legislation to let the people vote.”
A plan to broaden gaming, first presented in the second month of the year, was considerably reduced during the legislative period.
These proposals aimed to permit the state to provide its own lottery while joining multi-state lotteries. In theory, if voters endorsed the plan, they would be able to purchase Powerball or Mega Millions tickets.
Blackshear stated that the proposals would establish a special election on the twentieth of August to approve the lottery. The legislation would authorize in-person lottery sales, electronic chance games at seven locations, paper bingo, and traditional drawings. The lottery would be supervised by the Alabama Education Lottery Corporation, and earnings would be allocated to various educational programs. Slot machines and other forms of gambling revenue would be directed to the general fund.
Electronic chance games would be allowed at designated racetracks in Greene, Jefferson, Macon, and Mobile counties, and at bingo halls in Greene, Houston, and Lowndes counties. The bill mandates that the governor negotiate with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians regarding trust land and Class III gaming. The tribe already operates three Class II retail casinos on tribal lands.
Legislators discussed the bill for over an hour, with most expressing support and commending the conference committee. Another key point was that having a state lottery would keep Alabama funds within the state. Some lawmakers pointed out that residents travel to Florida or Tennessee to purchase lottery tickets.
The legislation will be forwarded to the Senate, potentially later this week. Alabama’s lawmaking session concludes on May 14th.
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