Alabama’s House of Representatives is exploring the possibility of gambling expansion
The Alabama House Republican caucus met on Wednesday in a closed session, which included a debate regarding the gambling bill that GOP lawmakers will propose in the next legislative session convening in less than four weeks.
Representative Andy Whitt leads a group of legislators examining gambling over the last 14 months and would not release details of the bill still being drafted. However, he did say that it should be a comprehensive bill, which is the language used for previous bills that included sports betting, casinos, a state lottery and a regulatory commission.
Whitt says his goal is to crack down against illegal gambling, which is active throughout the state. “As I’ve traveled the state over the last 12 months, it’s simply the wild west, the illegal gambling,” said Whitt. “And it’s something we need to address. It’s past time. And this year, we will have a bill.”
Lotteries and other games of chance are prohibited by the Alabama Constitution, meaning the only way to expand legal gambling is through a constitutional amendment, with voters having the final say. Alabama residents rejected a lottery bill in 1999 that former Gov. Don Siegelman supported.
“I think the chances are better (this year),” added Whitt. “It’s certainly my hope that we can get it on the floor and get it passed out and then up to the Senate.”
House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter also supports future gambling legislation, which is vital in a state where the GOP holds three-fourths of the House seats. Governor Kay Ivey has supported the comprehensive gaming proposal for the past three years and has not changed her stance, according to a statement released today.
