The Alabama House will be holding a public hearing on Tuesday to discuss legislation to let voters decide on sports betting, a state lottery, and casino-style gaming — as well as the legal format of a commission to regulate those activities.
Last week, Reps. Chris Blackshear (R-Phenix City), Andy Whitt (R-Madison), and Sam Jones (D-Mobile) announced a two-bill package, with one of them serving as a constitutional amendment on which voters would decide in November. The Alabama House is set to take up the gaming issue throughout the week, with the initial public hearing being held at 3 p.m. at the State House.
According to a release from the Alabama Policy Institute, a press conference is going to be held on Tuesday in Room 206 of the Alabama State House, alongside various groups to voice their opposition to the gaming bills.
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“The Alabama Policy Institute, Alabama Farmers Federation, ALCAP, Alabama Baptist Convention, Eagle Forum, recovering gambling addicts, human trafficking advocates, addiction experts, lawmakers in opposition to the bills, and other allies in the fight against the expansion of gambling in Alabama will be hosting a press conference and question/answer session at 2:00 pm, prior to the House Tourism Committee Public Hearing to be held at 3:00 pm.”
A two-thirds majority will be required to pass the constitutional amendment, meaning that 63 votes would be needed and both Republicans and Democrats would have to agree.
An Alabama Gaming Commission would also be created in order to regulate and license casinos, which have been proposed in six possible locations (Birmingham, Mobile, Greene County, Houston County, Lowndes County, and Macon County).
Last week, Mississippi’s House of Representatives approved a bill for online sports betting, which is currently now only legal inside of the casinos within the state.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP
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