The gambling bill passed the Senate. But now it s got to beat the House.
The Alabama Senate late Tuesday approved what started as a constitutional amendment to allow a lottery but transformed into legislation that would also establish casino-style gambling at six locations in state, allow sports wagering and direct the governor to negotiate a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. We have done a monumental job in overcoming something that s been haunting this body for as long as I ve been here, Sen. Jim McClendon, R-Springville, the bill s sponsor, said after the vote.
McClendon also called the bill one of the strangest pieces of legislation I ve ever dealt with, perhaps in part because it was possessed by the spirit of legislation the Senate killed in March. As passed, the McClendon bill was a reborn version of SB 214, sponsored by Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, that the chamber narrowly defeated on March 9.
Alabama News
Updated:
The Alabama Senate has approved a lottery and casino legislation as lawmakers make a third attempt to advance a gambling bill this session.
Senators voted 23-9 for the proposed constitutional amendment would establish a state lottery and allow nine casino sites in the state.
Casino and sports betting sites would be located in Macon County as well as Jefferson County, Mobile County, Greene County, Houston County and either Jackson or DeKalb counties as well as three sites owned by Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Those sites are in Montgomery, Wetumpka and Atmore.
The bill will move to the House of Representatives.
Alabama Senate approves comprehensive gaming bill, but not without some weirdness
The once-dead gaming bill was brought back to life Tuesday, and it passed the same Senate where it had previously failed. Author: Josh Moon (alreporter.com) Updated: 4:19 PM CDT April 14, 2021
MONTGOMERY, Ala. Alabama voters moved one step closer Tuesday to finally being allowed to vote on legalizing a statewide lottery, casino gaming and sports wagering. But because it’s gambling legislation in Alabama, nothing was easy and everything was weird.
The Alabama Senate approved a comprehensive gaming bill that would see the state grant licenses for facilities at nine locations around Alabama, approve a statewide lottery and legalize sports wagering at the nine facilities and online. It also authorizes Gov. Kay Ivey to negotiate a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. The bill passed 23-9.
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