The Alabama Senate has rejected a bill to expand gambling in the state.
Senate Bill 214, introduced by Sen. Del Marsh of Anniston, proposes a constitutional amendment that would create a state lottery, legalize most forms of sports betting and add additional casinos under a newly formed Alabama Gaming Commission.
The bill required 21 votes to pass the 35-member Senate. It fell two votes short, 19–13.
The bill originally called on the state to start a lottery and allow 5 new casinos — one at four of the state’s existing dog tracks plus a fifth site in north Alabama that would be run by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
Operating under federal law, the Poarch Band has three casinos in Alabama already in Atmore, Montgomery and Wetumpka.
Revisions to SB214 had added two more proposed casinos, one each in Houston County and Lowndes County.
Lawsuit filed
On Monday (March 8), Marsh was forced to address a lawsuit filed against him that claimed he had been bribed to create the legislation. Marsh called the allegations a “flat out lie.”
Addressing the failed Senate vote, Marsh said he was not convinced the vote signals an end to the discussion and told Senate colleagues, “I respect each and every one of you and look forward to working with you on whatever the next piece of legislation may be.”
Gov. Kay Ivey, whose gambling study group report favored an expansion of gambling in Alabama, issued a statement ahead of today’s vote.
“While I believe more work needs to be done, moving the bill through the legislative process is a vital next step. My commitment remains the same: to let the people of Alabama have the final say on a good bill that, once and for all, addresses a long-standing challenge that has faced our state.”
Any proposal to expand gambling must be approved by both three-fifths of lawmakers and a majority of voters in a statewide ballot initiative.
Click here to read more on the history of the bill that failed to pass the Senate today.
