Alabama Gambling Bill In Jeopardy, Stalls On House Floor

By Giovanni Shorter | May 10, 2021
Alabama Capitol
  • Alabama gambling bill SB 319 failed to be voted on during the May 7 session date.
  • The bill has one more day to be voted on otherwise it dies until 2022.
  • Alabama House Speaker Mac McCutcheon believes the bill is doubtful to pass or be voted on.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The gambling bill in Alabama is running the risk of dying altogether after the May 7 session ended without the bill being voted on or discussed.

The next and final session day for 2021 will be May 17, giving the bill just one final chance to be reviewed and voted on.

The bill doesn’t take precedent to other issues, however, so Alabama gambling could possibly go another year without being put to a vote.

Last Chance For Alabama Gambling

SB 319 would see an established Alabama Education Lottery, Alabama Education Lottery Corporation, and Alabama Gaming Commission to allow for the launching of local gambling in Alabama.

The session hearing would not be to passing the bill, however, but would have the bill on the November 2021 ballot for residents to vote on.

Lawmakers in Alabama seem to not view the bill as a focus, as they did not even find time to review and discuss the bill during the May 7 session date.

Many legislators worked hard on the bill, leading to tensions running high as the bill was pushed to the final day of May 17 to be reviewed. House Speaker Mac McCutcheon has publicly stated he doubts the bill passes then either, killing it altogether.

“Tensions were high because people have been working so hard. Everybody was just really upset at the way things were. There was no effort to pull anything behind anybody’s back. We were trying to get a bill on the floor,” said McCutcheon.

Another issue that is holding the bill up is the discrepancies between the Republican and Democratic parties. The Republican Party attempted to switch the gambling bill for a GOP-backed lottery bill, which could also have led to the holdup in the bill.

“If you don’t have integrity when you’re dealing with gaming, you need to give it up. And what I have seen in this room tonight, integrity is nowhere around,” said Pebblin Warren, House Representatives for D-Tuskegee.

While Alabama players should not give up hope as there is another day for the legal gambling bill to be reviewed, the current energy surrounding the bill is doubt in the chamber.

Anything can happen, so the best option is to be patient for the May 17 session.

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