The Poarch Band of Creek Indians is advocating for a significant expansion of gambling in Alabama, aiming to introduce table games and sports betting to their casinos. Per one report, currently, the tribe operates gaming resorts in Atmore, Wetumpka, and Montgomery. However, their offerings remain limited to electronic bingo machines, which resemble slot machines. Popular casino games such as blackjack, poker, and roulette remain illegal in Alabama, prompting many gamblers to travel to neighboring states like Mississippi where these options are available.
In this article, SBS will be going over the latest gaming news coming from the state of Alabama, as well as some additional notes and info regarding SBS wagering updates and more.
Arthur Mothershed, an executive with the Poarch Creeks, highlighted the challenges faced due to these restrictions as the same report pointed out. He noted that many casino visitors stop at Wind Creek Casino in Atmore only briefly before heading to Mississippi, where they can find a wide variety of games. “Many players prefer the skill involved in table games over the randomness of slot machines,” he explained, emphasizing how Alabama’s laws put its gaming industry at a disadvantage.
For table games to become legal, Alabama lawmakers must pass legislation, followed by approval from voters in a statewide referendum. Last year, a proposal that included a state lottery, casinos, and sports betting narrowly failed in the Senate by one vote. Senator Greg Albritton is working on a revised bill one report notes, but securing enough support remains a challenge.
The Poarch Creeks support a comprehensive gambling expansion that includes table games, a state lottery, and sports betting. This would allow them to negotiate a revenue-sharing deal with the state. While the final bill may not include all their goals, Mothershed said the tribe remains open to compromise if it leads to increased gambling opportunities. Additionally, the Poarch Creeks recently acquired the license to operate the Birmingham Race Course Casino. However, their plans for a new facility hinge on whether lawmakers approve broader gambling legislation in the near future.
Per another report, gambling expansion is one topic lawmakers may move forward this year, but a conservative group says gaming is the wrong bet for the state. Recently, members of the conservative think tank, the Alabama Policy Institute, released their study that says no matter how the chips fall this year, any expansion of gambling is a loss. Whether it’s a lottery, casinos, online gambling, or sports betting, gambling seems to come up in the legislature every year, the local report says. The API Report titled “Gambling is the wrong way for Alabama” says any gaming expansion will have a short-lived economic boost with long-lasting impacts on society – increasing poverty and drug use among other ills.
“We are pro-free market, pro-family and pro-limited government. And expanding gambling actually is against every single one of those three tenets,” Alabama Policy Institute President and CEO Stephanie Smith said. “We believe that gambling revenue is regressive and actually is predatory and looks for places and people who are vulnerable.” Some lawmakers argue Alabama is losing out to other states and to do nothing would be irresponsible.”
“We have gaming in Alabama. It is alive and well in Alabama, the state has a moral obligation to grab control of this industry,” Alabama Senator Greg Albritton said. “We’re missing out on protecting the public from this industry. Those who are young, those who are troubled, those that get caught up in it, we have no means to assist, help, or control that.”
Albritton said in the report that legislators were taking bets on the Super Bowl on the floor of the legislature around the time of the “Big Game.’ He also says lawmakers have to do something to get a handle on an unregulated industry that’s already seeped into the state. Additionally, gaming legislation is often put off until the final weeks of the session and usually fails. As noted in other articles in this space before, gaming has been a hot topic in the state for some time and it would appear lawmakers are still at an impasse about how things will shake out in the future here in the state. That said, each legislative session there is momentum for some kind of gaming proposal to get going in the state. Perhaps this is the year that there are firm new gaming proposals passed in Alabama, or perhaps not.
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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
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