Gambling bill stalls in Alabama House as tempers flare
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KIM CHANDLER, Associated Press
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Rep. Chris Blackshear talks with the media about gambling legislation outside of the House chamber at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Ala., Thursday, May 6, 2021. (Mickey Welsh/The Montgomery Advertiser via AP)Mickey Welsh/AP
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) Lottery and casino legislation stalled in the Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday night after negotiations failed to muster enough support, leaving the outlook for the gambling bill doubtful with just a day remaining in the session.
The demise of the legislation led to finger-pointing over who was responsible and an unsuccessful effort by Republicans to switch the bill for a GOP-backed lottery proposal. Republicans accused Democrats of making last-minute demands on the bill. Democrats criticized what they described as a bad-faith push by Republicans to change out the bill.
The Alabama House of Representatives chamber floor is in session above. The state lawmakers had a busy legislative day yesterday, but could not come to an agreement on the possible expansion of casino gambling and legalization of a lottery. (Image:
AL.com)
Senate Bill 319 passed the Alabama Senate last month by a 23-9 vote. But the gaming expansion package has been met with much more controversy in the state’s lower legislative chamber.
Last night, House representatives engaged in a fierce debate. Republicans accused Democrats of trying to add last-minute changes to the lottery and gaming measure. Democrats charged Republicans with introducing a lottery-only statute without their knowledge or input before it arrived on the floor.
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Casino, lottery bill heads to key House vote
May 6, 2021
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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) Lottery and casino legislation is headed to a key vote in the Alabama Legislature.
The Alabama House of Representatives is scheduled to debate the gambling proposal Thursday. The bill would establish a state lottery and casino sites, mostly at existing dog tracks or sites owned by the Poarch Creek Indians.
Casinos would be located at VictoryLand in Macon County, Greentrack in Greene County, Mobile County Race Course in Mobile County and the Crossing at Big Creek in Houston County. The Poarch Band of Creek Indians would also have casinos at its three locations plus the final bid for a new north Alabama site in either Jackson or DeKalb counties.
Gambling bill stalls in Alabama House as tempers flare
By KIM CHANDLERMay 7, 2021 GMT
Rep. Chris Blackshear talks with the media about gambling legislation outside of the House chamber at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Ala., Thursday, May 6, 2021. (Mickey Welsh/The Montgomery Advertiser via AP)
Rep. Chris Blackshear talks with the media about gambling legislation outside of the House chamber at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Ala., Thursday, May 6, 2021. (Mickey Welsh/The Montgomery Advertiser via AP)
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) Lottery and casino legislation stalled in the Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday night after negotiations failed to muster enough support, leaving the outlook for the gambling bill doubtful with just a day remaining in the session.