Down in Alabama, gaming legalization will seemingly be on the table again for voters in 2025, but one state lawmaker recently commented on what it will take for a bill to pass through. Per a recent interview with a local FM talk radio station in the state, State Sen. David Sessions (R-Grand Bay) acknowledged the possibility that the Alabama Legislature could revisit gambling in 2025. However, he suggested passing anything during this year’s legislative session would be a high bar. “I think so, you know – I don’t know how successful (a gambling bill) will be,” he said in an interview with radio host Jeff Poor. “You know, Jeff, you and I have talked several times on the gaming. It’s not a good way to fund the government, and the economy turns bad again, and it will because those things cycle.”
For this article, SBS will be going over what to look for from the latest gaming news coming from Alabama along with some additional notes about the Cotton State and more at SBS.
Also noted in the same interview, the state lawmaker would go on to elaborate on his gaming stance in the report. “It’s not a necessity, and if people are smart, they won’t be spending their power bill money on lottery tickets and gambling,” Sessions said.
“So, you know, I have always had a philosophical issue,” Sessions continued. “Now, I don’t mind letting the people vote,” Session continued. “But, it’s our job as the senator and the representatives, if we send something to the people to vote on, it needs to be something that’s good for the state of Alabama, and not something that’s just good for the gambling interest for the sake of having money in the government to fund the government.’
Noted in another report regarding the potential bill, lottery and gambling legislation could be on tap again in the Alabama Legislature in the 2025 session even with these headwinds. Covered in this space before, the final version of a gambling and lottery package passed the House but fell short by one vote in the Senate in the final days of the 2024 session in May. Since the last legislative session ended, Wind Creek Hospitality, owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, and the McGregor family, owners of the Birmingham Race Course and Casino and Victoryland Casino, announced in November that they had entered into an agreement under which Wind Creek would acquire the Birmingham Race Course. The sale is expected to be finalized in early 2025.
However, State Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore) told a local outlet in the state in December he had not heard of any new gambling-related bills being worked on yet for the 2025 session. “The problem has not gone away. The issue has not gone away so it’s not a matter of it’s simply a matter of I think when,” Albritton said. “I have not seen any bill. I’m unaware of anybody that has admitted to working on a bill.”
Covered also in the same report, State Sen. Rodger Smitherman (D-Birmingham) said he thought another lottery and gambling bill would come before the Senate in 2025. “I think that issue is going to come before us. I just don’t know to what extent or how much attention it is going to get, but I’m sure someone is going to bring it before us,” Smitherman told another local outlet in mid-December.
Additionally, Gina Maiola, a spokesperson for Gov. Kay Ivey, told the same outlet in December, “The governor made her position on gambling clear last Session, as well in years past,” Maiola said. “That being said, at this point, I would refer you to the Legislature.” State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), a no vote on multiple gambling bills in the 2024 session, said on Huntsville radio WVNN’s “The Dale Jackson Show” in December that a lottery bill was “low-hanging fruit.” Additionally, lottery-only legislation in Alabama, if passed, would also likely open the door for table games and slot machines on the Poarch Creek Indians’ (PCI) tribal land in Atmore, Montgomery, and Wetumpka because lotteries are considered class III gaming under federal law. Orr said, “It will probably continue to be debated as to what (PCI) could do if we were to have a lottery.”
“What I hear from people is: lottery. They want a lottery. Now if there’s fallout to that we need to try to define…fallout being defined as if it leads to more table games elsewhere then that certainly needs to be defined and in the equation, for people to make a judgment on whether they want to vote for that lottery or not, what the lottery might entail,” Orr said.
Once you are all up to speed on the latest gambling news and information coming from the state of Alabama, make sure to check out the excellent array of info for you over at SBS. Of course, for even more news from the Cotton State, make sure to check out the sports betting in Alabama guide which goes over all of the latest happenings in the region and more. Additionally, for those interested in some higher-stakes wagering, look no further than the VIP sports betting sites rundown where you can learn more about if you qualify for VIP wagering and if it makes sense for you. Finally, for those on the go and who are eligible, look no further than the best betting apps breakdown where you can check out the nuances of mobile betting and beyond.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
Read Chris's ProfileAsk Chris about this guide:
