Rep. Phillip Ensler says he would push for gambling approval
As the 2026 legislative session begins in Alabama, state lawmakers are preparing for a renewed effort to legalize a state lottery, sports betting, and casino gaming. A key figure in this movement is Rep. Phillip Ensler, who has recently integrated the issue into his platform for higher office.
Ensler has publicly stated that he intends to push for comprehensive gambling legislation as a core component of his 2026 campaign for Lieutenant Governor. He argues that the state must address the loss of revenue to neighboring jurisdictions, noting that Alabama is one of only five states without a lottery.
Ensler’s advocacy highlights a shift toward viewing gambling as a solution for funding education and infrastructure, rather than a purely moral issue. He has emphasized that the legislature needs to focus on “real problems” and that the public deserves the opportunity to vote on a constitutional amendment.
Proponents of the 2026 measures estimate that a regulated market could generate between $800 million and $1.2 billion in annual revenue for the state. Previous legislative attempts, such as the 2024 package, failed because of deep-seated disagreements between the House and Senate over the scope of the expansion. The House generally supported a wide-reaching bill including ten casino sites and statewide mobile sports betting, while the Senate sought to limit expansion to tribal lands and existing greyhound tracks.
For any new proposal to succeed in 2026, it must pass both chambers with a three-fifths majority to be placed on the general election ballot. Current polling suggests that a majority of Alabama residents support a state lottery, but the inclusion of casino gaming and sports betting remains a point of contention among conservative caucuses and the Alabama Policy Institute, which continues to lobby against the social impacts of expanded gaming.
