A gambling bill is in the fray of the 2025 legislative session.
According to Alabama Daily News, State Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore) is looking for the votes needed to pass a comprehensive gaming package that includes Class II casinos, sports betting, a statewide lottery, and regulatory commissions to oversee and enforce its activity.
Albritton is leading up the charge once again in the Alabama Senate this year after voting against the gaming bill approved by a House and Senate conference committee last year.
In 2021, the Senate passed gaming legislation, but it fell short in the House. In 2022, a gaming bill was introduced in the Senate, but passed neither chamber. In 2023, no bill was introduced, giving members of the Alabama House time to prepare the most coordinated gaming push so far of the century, in 2024.
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Now, Albritton is proposing a September 2025 special election to allow voters to decide on the matter before the 2026 elections.
He told ADN “fear of political blowback” has slowed down internal discussions — but cautions, “I understand that next year is an election year, everybody’s gearing up for that and fundraising starts in May,” and “…it’s not going to get any easier next year.”
According to the report, Albritton’s legislation proposes to do the following:
- Create an Alabama Gaming Commission and outline its membership and duties;
- Create within the commission a Gaming Enforcement Division to police gaming activities in the state;
- Allow for six Class II gambling sites in the state, in addition to the three on the Poarch Creek’s federally recognized properties: At each of the racetracks in Jefferson, Macon, and Mobile counties and bingo halls in Greene, Macon and Houston counties;
- Require the state to enter into a compact with the Poarch Creek;
- Allow for sports betting “whether in-person on the premises of the licensee’s gaming establishment or through an individually branded sports wagering platform website and through an associated mobile application bearing the same brand name.”
- Set a 24% tax rate on net revenue from games of change and sports bets;
- Put a $2,500 privilege tax on every electronic game at establishments.
- Create a state lottery and the Alabama Lottery Corporation to oversee it;
- Create a Gaming Trust Fund and separate Alabama Lottery Trust Fund to receive the state’s gaming tax revenue and license fees and lottery revenue;
- Allow for traditional raffles or traditional bingo for charity fundraising with a required license and fee not to exceed $25.
When lawmakers return next week, Tuesday will be day 17 of the 2025 legislative session, and there are no remaining planned breaks.
Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
