With only one day left in Alabama’s legislative session the chances for the approval of a bill to legalize sports betting, casino-style gambling and a state lottery are dwindling.

Proponents of SB 319 hoped the bill would be heard and voted on in the House last week. However, the bill was never brought up and now faces long odds to be heard and passed on the final day of the state’s legislative session on Monday, May 17.

One day left for Alabama sports betting bill

Hopes were high that the bill would be passed by the House and sent to the floor after it received a favorable report from the Alabama Ways and Means Education Committee last week. According to AL.com, House Speaker Mac McCutcheon said the bill did not have the votes for the needed three-fifths majority in the house required for a constitutional amendment. McCutcheon went on to say the bill likely would not be passed on the final day of the legislative session.

Supporters of the bill were hoping Alabama voters would be able to decide the fate of the constitutional amendment in the November 2022 general election. Now, the earliest state residents could vote on the constitutional amendment would likely be the 2023 general election.

If approved by voters, an Alabama Education Lottery Corporation would be created to operate a state lottery in Alabama. Alabama is only one of five states in the country not to have a state lottery system.

Proceeds from the lottery would be deposited in a lottery trust fund for education purposes and scholarship programs. The bill sets the sports betting tax rate at 20%, with the ability to increase the rate every five years by a maximum of 2% each time. The tax rate ceiling is set at 30%.

Bill would approve sports betting, state lottery

The legislation, SB 319, would allow casino-style gaming and sports wagering operated only at sites in Jefferson County, Mobile County, Macon County, Green County, Houston County and Jackson or DeKalb County, and on lands held in trust for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians pursuant to a compact.

The amendment would also create the Alabama Gaming Commission to supervise the conduct of sports wagering and casino-style games, as well as bingo and raffles, in the state.

The Alabama Gaming Commission would adopt rules governing the licensing, administration and conduct of sports wagering. It would also require the governor to negotiate a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

Licenses would be awarded for sports wagering and casino-style games for specified terms after a competitive bidding process is established by the commission. Meanwhile, a tax rate would be set on the net gaming revenues of the operations, except operations on lands held in trust for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.