Some Alabama lawmakers, including Governor Kay Ivey, expressed frustration as the legislative session ended without a final vote on a gambling bill. The bill had passed in the House earlier in the session, but a scaled-back version failed in the Senate. The failure to pass the bill means that voters will not have the opportunity to vote on gambling within the state later this year, continuing a 25-year stalemate on the issue. Efforts were made to reach a compromise, but ultimately the impasse could not be broken.
The bill approved by the House would have allowed a lottery, sports betting, and up to 10 casinos with slot machines and table games. However, the Senate approved a stricter version that only included a lottery and allowing dog tracks and other sites to have machines for betting on replays of horse races. Senators were reluctant to approve the idea of slot machines or video poker. A compromise proposed by a conference committee that would have authorized a statewide lottery and slot machines at seven locations in the state also did not win approval in the Senate despite passing in the House.
Governor Kay Ivey expressed disappointment in the outcome, as she wanted people to have a chance to vote on the issue. Despite calls for a special session, she stated that it would be pointless without lawmakers reaching an agreement. The sponsor of the legislation, Republican Rep. Chris Blackshear, emphasized the potential for the bill to provide the state with more revenue for education, roads, and other needs. However, the bill ultimately fell short of the votes needed for approval, leaving supporters frustrated with the lack of progress.
Alabamians have not voted on gambling since 1999 when a lottery proposal was rejected by voters. Multiple efforts have been made since then to establish gambling opportunities in the state, but debate over casinos and electronic gambling machines has continued to stall the bills. Some lawmakers expressed frustration over the lack of progress, noting that residents are traveling to neighboring states to purchase lottery tickets, benefiting those states instead of Alabama. Calls were made to focus on the needs of the people and push for a resolution that would allow residents to vote on the issue.
The 25-year stalemate on gambling in Alabama has left lawmakers and supporters disappointed as the legislative session ended without a final vote on a gambling bill. Efforts to pass a bill that would allow a lottery, sports betting, and casinos were met with challenges in the Senate, where a stricter version of the bill was approved. Despite attempts to reach a compromise, the bill failed to pass, meaning that residents will not have the opportunity to vote on gambling within the state this year. Lawmakers expressed frustration over the lack of progress and the ongoing debate over casinos and electronic gambling machines that has prevented bills from moving forward.
