Alabama Considering Bill to Put Sports Betting on the Ballot

Sports betting proponents in Alabama are considering a new approach to legalize the industry.

Senator Merika Coleman-Evans (D) has proposed a constitutional amendment to allow residents to vote on expanding gambling in the state. The bill, SB 257, includes online and retail sports betting, which remains illegal in the southern market. The amendment would also establish a state-operated lottery, a measure residents have long called for.

If passed, the Governor would be able to open official negotiations for a gaming compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. 

Alabama Constitution Bans Lotteries

Unlike many other US markets, Alabama doesn’t offer a lottery for residents. It’s one of five states to ban this state-sponsored form of gambling, and shows the uphill battle this bill will face.

SB 257 would allow residents a chance to end the ban. This could happen without legalizing any other form of gambling, allowing voters an option for limited expansion. There has been strong public support for lottery gaming, which would likely give it the best chance of approval on a ballot. 

By combining lottery gaming with other gambling expansion could help support the effort to pass SB 257.

Lack of Bi-Partisan Support Dims Hopes

While there has been growing support for legalizing sports betting, that support may not carry over to the current bill. 

America is more politically divided than ever, making it nearly impossible for the minority party to get much done in the states. That includes Alabama, which is overwhelmingly Republican. Many of those voters won’t consider supporting any bills proposed by Democrats, which includes SB 257.

While the lack of Republican sponsors is a bad sign, it doesn’t mean the bill will fail. The White House publicly criticized Alabama lawmakers in September for not legalizing sports betting and urged them to do so. His words carry significant weight with voters in the state and could pressure Republicans to engage with the Democrats’ bill. 

A History of Alabama’s Sports Betting Debate

Alabama is one of the few states without any legal sports betting, but it isn’t from a lack of trying. Lawmakers in the state have proposed bills to legalize the industry since 2019, but none have passed. Below is a table outlining the history of Alabama’s efforts to establish a legal market.

The House decided to abandon legalization efforts after HB 490, saying it would wait for the Senate to propose its own bill.