A proposal calling for the expansion of gambling activities across Alabama has been gaining traction recently. House Bill 151 (HB 151) calls for the legalization of sports betting , expansion of gambling and the establishment of a lottery .



While both Democrat and Republican lawmakers showed support for the proposal, there are still points on which they strongly disagree . Earlier this month, the gambling bill advanced to the Senate Conference Committee , where it currently seeks approval.



Previously, the House version of the bill included texts about casino gambling, sports betting and a lottery. However, after the Senate revised the proposal, much of the text has changed , leaving the lottery as the primary focus for the gambling expansion in Alabama.



Lawmakers also disagreed about the date which may be used for the residents’ vote for or against the proposal. Provided that the bill gains further traction, it would require approval from Alabama voters. While the House proposed the Election Day in November, the Senate wanted to use September 10 as the date for that vote.



The debate on the proposal is currently ongoing with the Senate Conference Committee and according to a report by CBS42 , Democrats, as well as Republicans from both chambers are holding meetings behind closed doors . In the meantime, the deadline for the legislative session is approaching . With less than a week left, Alabama lawmakers will need to quickly decide the future of the gambling bill.



While currently, the state offers casino gambling, sports betting is not yet legal . All of Alabama’s neighbors, including Tennessee , Mississippi and Florida offer sports betting with the single exception being Georgia . Supporters of the gambling expansion say that sports betting, lottery and casino gambling will help generate additional tax revenue .



Sen. Gudger, Optimistic about a Vote on the Gambling Bill



The Senate Conference Committee includes Sen. Greg Albritton , Sen. Garlan Gudger , as well as Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton . According to Gudger, one of the important points in the ongoing discussion is where the gambling tax revenue would go.



Speaking about the hot topic, the politician said: “Where the money is going, right? Everybody wants to know where the money is going .” He questioned whether the additional funds would contribute toward mental health programs or an education lottery, saying that there are literally “a thousand other places that it could go.”



Gudger added that as a supporter of mental health programs, he would like to see such initiatives benefit from additional funding . This otherwise means that additional tax revenue would need to be allocated to the general fund.



Sen. Gudger spoke about the potential of the bill gaining further traction, explaining that he is optimistic about a vote on the proposal before the end of the legislative session.