Whatever faint hope there was for legalizing sports betting in the Heart of Dixie this year has been quietly snuffed out.
A conference committee set up to resolve differences between lawmakers over gambling expansion in the southern state met Tuesday and did not reinsert provisions that would have made legal sports betting in Alabama a reality.
Once upon a time, House Bill 151 proposed an amendment to the Alabama constitution that included a new state lottery, casinos, and sports betting, among other things.
That bill, along with implementation legislation, House Bill 152, was passed by the Alabama House of Representatives in mid-February. The Senate then went to work on the measures, leaving only the provisions providing for a lottery and an expanded compact with the state’s gambling tribe.
Differences of opinion
The Senate passed the bills in March, but the changes were shot down by the House, leading to the creation of a conference committee that could craft a compromise. On Tuesday, it was clear the path forward would not include sports betting.
“H.B. 151 also does not — and let me be clear — does not authorize sports betting,” said Republican Rep. Chris Blackshear, the bill's sponsor, during the conference committee’s public meeting. “It is out. That was one of the biggest things: sports betting is removed.”
Both H.B. 151 and 152 were reported favorably by the conference committee unanimously, sans sports betting. Lawmakers now have until May 20 to pass what is still in the measures, which is a state education lottery, electronic games of chance at seven locations in the state, and a requirement for the governor to negotiate a new compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians for in-person gambling on their lands.
Since it is a proposed amendment to the state constitution, the legislation requires the support of three-fifths of state lawmakers and the approval of a majority of voters. The new version of H.B. 151 would authorize a special election on August 20 of this year to let voters decide.
Bettor luck next year?
Again, though, voters won’t have the opportunity to weigh in on legalizing sports betting, because it was removed from the proposed amendment. Instead, would-be legal sports betting in Alabama will have to wait until next year to see if lawmakers try again.
It’s been a tough go for the pro-sports betting crowd in the south this year. Efforts in Georgia, Mississippi, and, now, Alabama have all failed for various reasons (although Mississippi at least has retail wagering at casinos), leaving the southeastern U.S. as one of the more restrictive regions despite a strong love of sports such as college football.
