New Alabama Bill Could Make Illegal Gambling a Felony

An Alabama State Representative has introduced a bill that would provide steeper punishments for illegal gambling. In Alabama today, there are no retail casinos, online casino play, sports betting, or even a lottery. 

Who Introduced the Bill?

The State Rep. responsible for the bill is Matthew Hammett, a Republican from Covington. He introduced a bill, House Bill 41, last week that increased penalties for those involved with illegal gambling. 

The bill would make electronic bingo, skill games, and historical horse racing machines and terminals illegal under the Alabama Code. 

The code currently reads as follows: 

“Penalties for a person knowingly profiting from illegal gambling would be raised from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class C felony, the latter of which is punishable by one to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $15K. The current punishment schedule as a misdemeanor subjects those found guilty of gambling crimes with up to a year behind bars and a $6,000 fine.”

With House Bill 41, those found guilty of subsequent violations would face a Class B felony and two to 20 years in prison with possible fines of $30k or double the monetary gains from illegal gambling. 

Gambling Referendum Narrowly Rejected Earlier This Season

Earlier this year, Alabama lawmakers were rejected extremely narrowly in an effort to allow voters to decide if they wanted to end illegal retail gambling. 

In May 2024, a special committee recommended that the Alabama Legislature ask voters to authorize three tribal casinos with slots and table games and seven racinos where slots would be legal. 

They also recommend that there be a state-run lottery. 

However, a referendum bill needs three-fifths support in each chamber of the legislature. The House of Delegates met this, but it was one vote shy in the Senate. 

Whatever side you were on with the gambling bills last session, whether you were yes or no, everybody agreed there’s a problem in this state with illegal gambling,” Hammett told AL.com.

State Sen. Greg Albritton said no despite supporting legalizing casinos because this referendum didn’t allow the Poach Band of Creek Indians to pursue a commercial casino development on nonsovereign land. 

Prosecutor Wants Harsh Penalties for Illegal Gambling

While Hammett presented this bill, he crafted it after Covinton County District Attorney Walt Merrell requested it, as the current penalties don’t do enough to stop illegal gambling. 

In fact, earlier this month, seized bingo machines were stolen from one bingo hall in Selma and reappeared at another in Lipscomb, 80 miles from where they were stolen. The machine was identified because it still had evidence tape on it.