• Michigan Gambling Bill
• Alabama Gambling Commission
• Alabama Gambling Law
• Alabama Gambling Compact
• Alabama Sports Gambling Bill
• Alabama Gambling Bill

The Alabama Legislature seemed about to approve McClendon's lottery bill in 2016, but just as now, the bill only approved a paper lottery. Ultimately, this led to its failure. There is tension between two groups that run gaming facilities in the state. Bill Text: HB8: Historical monuments, local governments authorized to remove and required to transfer ownership to Archives and History or Alabama Historical Commission for public display, Alabama Memorial Preservation Act of 2017, Secs. 41-9-230 to 41-9-237, inclus. Bill Text: HB24.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Proposals to start a state lottery — and to allow the Poarch Band of Creek Indians to operate casino games — have been filed in the Alabama Legislature, but it is unclear when, or if, the bills will get a vote.

Rep. Steve Clouse, a Republican from Ozark, has filed lottery legislation that has 70 members of the 105-member House of Representatives, signed on as co-sponsors. A Senate bill by Sen. Greg Albritton, a Republican from Range, would allow the Poarch Band of Creek Indians to exclusively operate up to five casinos including new locations in Jefferson County and northeast Alabama.

Michigan Gambling Bill

Both proposals would have to be approved by voters.

However, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has asked lawmakers to hold off on gambling debates as she awaits a report from a research task force she created. The panel held its first meeting this month and has been directed to issue a report by the end of the year.

Clouse said he introduced the legislation to get the conversation started, but said debate on the bill is on hold.

“I don’t know if it is going to go anywhere. I’m not going to try to move it in committee until I get the go ahead that it will get a hearing in the Senate at least, that the governor would be OK with it. We’re on hold here,” Clouse said.

The bill would allow the sale of lottery tickets, including scratch off instant tickets and multistate lottery games, but would not allow video lottery terminals, which can resemble slot machines. Lottery proceeds would be divided between the state’s prekindergarten program and college scholarships.

Clouse said he would like to see it on the November ballot, because the presidential election is the most highly participated election in the four-year cycle.

“When you look at some of the polling that’s been done over the last several months, the numbers are very high that people want us to address a lottery in Alabama,” House Speaker Mac McCutcheon said.

Ivey spokeswoman Gina Maiola said Ivey “fully supports the people of Alabama ultimately being able to vote on a lottery or other gaming items,” but wants more information first.

Albritton’s bill, if approved by lawmakers and voters, would create a state lottery and allow the Poarch Band of Creek Indians to exclusively operate casinos in the state with slot machines and table games like poker. There would be two casinos with one in Jefferson County and the other in the northeast corner of the state in either Dekalb, Jackson or Marshall counties. The tribe would pay an upfront license fee of $250 million for each site.

It would direct the governor to start compact negotiations with the tribe to allow casino games at its current three properties in Montgomery, Atmore and Wetumpka.

The proposal comes at the same time the tribe has launched a “Winning for Alabama” public relations campaign for their effort to secure casinos.

Alabama Gambling Commission

The bill is expected to get heavy pushback from lawmakers whose districts include dog tracks. They have objected to giving the tribe a monopoly on gambling. It would do away with any electronic gambling at the tracks.

Alabama Gambling Law

Lawmakers return to Montgomery on March 31 after a spring break. Albritton said he would like to try to get a committee vote on the bill in April.

Albritton said he believes voters will support the measure, if if he can get it through the Legislature, because of the revenue and entertainment options it would bring.

Alabama Gambling Compact

Alabama Senate committee has moved forward on legalizing online gambling. The bill is going to bring to Alabama several online forms for both markets, lottery and casino games. Like many other US states, Alabama has been struggling with budget cuts, and therefore looking for solutions to increase state’s tax revenues. The bill to decriminalize online gambling, casino games and lottery, has been the only answer to the state prays. The Senate committee has decided to pass the online gambling bill this week although there is still a need to work on the legislation details. The different parties are not quite sure about this step even though legalizing online gambling seems to be the only way to boost the state economy. The bill still needs to become law, as now it is just a constitutional amendment that needs to be approved by voters next September. If Alabama Senate and voters legalize online gambling, online forms for both lottery and casino games will be allowed in several sites within the state: Victory Land in Macon County; Greene track in Greene County, the Birmingham Race Course, and Mobile Greyhound Park. The Poarch Band of Creek Indians, as usual, has come out with negative remarks and does not want the bill; Native American Reserves casinos are still under the impression that online gambling would interfere their business, one of the main reasons why Wind Creek Casino in Atmore does not want the bill.

Alabama Sports Gambling Bill

Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, has said: 'I'm not a gamer. As a Republican I've never been big behind gaming, but I think gaming is here to stay. We're making sure that we as a state receive fair revenue from (the sector). It's not something I have pressured people on. I had the votes to get it out of committee and I think that was the next step to get it on the floor. I do not want to open that floodgate. What I do want to do is create a gaming commission to make these decisions going forward.'

Alabama Gambling Bill

House Speaker Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, commented: 'I don't think there's much chance of passing the Senate. I haven't really polled our members, but my prediction down here is it has a very low chance of passing'. Sen. Trip Pittman, R-Montrose, said: 'Gambling is for losers. I think a lot of people may think this is a solution to this year's budget problems, and it is not. People can manipulate a crisis to pass something that has long-term consequences.'