Alabama lawmakers talk gambling bills at Mid-Alabama Republican Club

Over the weekend, the Mid-Alabama Republican Club hosted state lawmakers to offer an update on the 2024 legislative session, currently on a week-long break.

State Sen. Jabo Waggoner (R-Vestavia Hills) said that he opposed House version of the gambling legislation received by the Senate, believes their revisions were productive, and ultimately thinks some form of the proposal will be passed.

“It was a far-reaching bill,” Waggoner said. “Something most of you would have not voted for. We knew we had to change it.”

“You would not believe how much illegal gaming is going on in Alabama. There are over a thousand illegal casinos going on in Alabama.”

“In the bill we capped it,” Waggoner said of the Senate version. “It prohibits any new casinos.”

“What we are going to do is legalize the existing places – seven of them,” Waggoner said. “It allows people to vote for a paper lottery.”

In February, House lawmakers advanced a proposal that would have authorized seven additional casinos in Alabama, a state lottery, sports gambling in person and online and instituted an Alabama Gaming Commission authority over gambling in the state.

“I have never placed a dime betting,” Sen. Waggoner said. “Right now, the state is receiving no revenue from those illegally operating,” estimating that the Senate bill would bring in $350 to $400 million.

The Senate bill stripped Class III gaming, sport betting, and electronic bingo, kept the potential compact between Alabama and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, the historical horse racing machines, and the creation of a new state agency to oversee operations. The Senate bill also moved the vote on ratification from the November 5 general election to a September special election..

“It goes back to the House to either concur or nonconcur,” Waggoner explained.

If the House does not vote to concur with the Senate bill, then gambling will go to a conference committee between both chambers.

“I think eventually something will pass,” Waggoner said. “Do we keep allowing all of this illegal gambling and not getting anything from it? My big issue is that they wanted to put a second casino in Birmingham. here ain’t going to be a casino in downtown Birmingham. The only casino will be on the existing dog track (the Birmingham Race Course).”

State Senator Dan Roberts (R-Mountain Brook) said one hang up revolved around sports betting.

“That is the most addictive form of gambling,” Roberts explained. “The Senate version does not have sports betting.”

State Rep. Jim Carnes (R-Vestavia Hills) said he’s fundamentally opposed to legalization of gambling and that it has the potential to change the state forever.

“On gambling we disagree,” Carns said. “I am going to do everything in the House that I can to defeat it. There is a strong chance that we can stop it.”

“I don’t want to see my grandchildren driving down the road and the state of Alabama encouraging them to gamble,” said Carns.

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