Alabama Sports Betting Removed From Gaming Bills In Senate Committee

The hopes for an Alabama sports betting market have officially been put on hold as the Senate Tourism Committee removes betting from the gaming bills. Both measures HB 151 and HB 152 passed in the Senate committee and advanced to the Senate floor. Unfortunately, sports betting was stripped from the measures. Senators did not believe there was enough support to pass the measure with Alabama sportsbooks included.

Alabama Moves Forward Without Sports Betting

What remains on the two measures are local casinos run by tribes, horse race parimutuel betting, and the creation of a state lottery. The bills initially aimed to bring sports betting alongside ten tribal casinos. Only three casinos are allowed under the current structure of the bills.

Lawmakers did not believe that sports betting had the votes to advance the bills. There was much pushback surrounding the measures, even in the House of Representatives. While the bills managed to pass in the House, it appears the Senate is not on the same page. Now, the hopes for a sports betting market in the Yellow Hammer State have come to an unfortunate close for this legislative session.

What’s Next For Alabama Sportsbooks

In lieu of another measure making the rounds, sports betting hopes are dead for 2024. However, if the two gaming bills manage to pass in the Senate and become law, this could work in favor of Alabama sportsbooks next year.

The measures will establish an Alabama Gaming Commission that would oversee all gambling in the state. If Alabama successfully launches a gaming market with lottery and tribal casinos and sees an increase in revenue, sports betting supporters can bring that to naysayers. Now, there would be clear evidence of the fiscal benefits of gambling.

Additionally, a new sports betting measure would only need to convince lawmakers to pass sports betting. There would already be established casinos, a lottery, and a gaming commission. With a measure being able to focus on one thing, convincing lawmakers would only come down to the issue of betting. A more clear focus could be what sports betting needs to finally pass in Alabama.