House Representatives Say Alabama Sports Betting is in Senate's Hands

If Alabama sports betting is going to be legalized, it’s on the Senate to get it done. 

At least, this is how the House of Representatives frames it. 

“Leaders in the Alabama House of Representatives have said the ball is in the Alabama Senate's court to propose gambling legislation this year after bills originating in the House failed to cross the finish line last year,” writes Erin Wise of ABC 33/40. “Although a bill hasn't been filed, discussions have been held about the topic.”

This stance from the House may seem somewhat stubborn. After all, it will take collaboration between both the House and Senate to legalize sports betting in Alabama. At the same time, last year’s developments seemingly warrant some hard-lining—and skepticism—from House members. They passed a bill to legalize Alabama sports betting, only to see it picked apart by the Senate. 

On certain occasions, those failings can be used to construct a new initiative that establishes a happy medium. However, with no Alabama sports betting bill on the table in 2025 (so far), it makes you wonder whether that’s possible at this time. 

What Went Wrong with Last Year’s Alabama Sports Betting Efforts?

Last year’s Alabama sports betting bill flopped despite attempts to portray the effort as more productive. Indeed, the House voted in favor of a proposal to amend gaming laws in The Crimson State. But it apparently never stood a chance in the Senate. 

In fact, this may be putting it kindly. The Senate stripped apart the initiative, removing language that would both legalize Alabama sports betting and casino gaming. In essence, they remade it to be an Alabama State Lottery bill. Upon receiving the changes, House Representatives never sent it back.

Many believe the 2024 state legislature sessions simply ran out of time to discuss sports betting. That is true to some degree. But fundamental differences, in hindsight, seem to be the real driving force behind its dormancy. 

And look, this makes sense. How is the House supposed to find a middle ground on a casino and sports betting bill that no longer includes…anything to do with Alabama sports betting or casino gaming? 

This feels like the catalyst for where things stand now. The House can easily propose another sports betting bill. And they will probably pass it. But that means next to nothing if the Senate gloms onto the same hangups. Hence why House members are laying the responsibility to set the 2025 Alabama sports betting agenda at the Senate’s feet.

Are Revenue Allocations a Primary Source of Division in Sports Betting Talks?

There is plenty of opposition toward Alabama sports betting among Senate members. And the issues at hand vary. 

Some state officials think sports betting in the United States is a gateway for predatory marketing and problem gambling. Others differ on how Alabama sports betting should be deployed. Should it be on-site only? Should it feature the legalization of Alabama online sports betting? If it is retail-only, will there be a plan and timeline in place to eventually rollout online sports betting in Alabama? 

Licensing numbers as well as tax rates are sources of debate as well. And as Wise’s reporting for ABC 33/40 indicates, the areas to which Alabama sports betting revenue gets allocated may also be a paint point:

“Determining where revenue from gambling would go is a significant part of any bill that is filed. In previous proposals, education would have received a large part of the funds. When asked about discussions of allocating funding to roads and bridges, [Senate Minority Leader Bobby] Singleton said, ‘I don't think all of this money needs to go to roads and bridges. I think that we have a lot of things going on. The federal government takes care of a lot of our roads and bridges. We have Medicaid that needs money. We need to do more with healthcare, rural healthcare. Save some of our hospitals. I think there's a lot of places the money can go before it goes to roads and bridges. I don't have a problem with some of it going to roads and bridges. That does not need to dominate where the dollars go.’"

This is a reasonable stance. It may also be a tough sell. Alabama’s Senate is dominated by Republicans. They are more likely than Democrats to oppose funding for Medicaid and general healthcare.

Will the Alabama Senate Propose a Sports Betting Bill in 2025?

With The Crimson State’s legislature underway, we will know the answer to this question soon enough. And yet, the absence of one so far is potentially a bad sign. 

Then again, maybe not.

Singleton notes that while a bill is not yet proposed, he has heard talk about one. That rings hollow on some level. Everything gets “talked about” this time of year. Few conversations lead to concrete legislation. 

The real tell will come later in March, after lawmakers return from spring break. That is when many unaddressed bills will be filed. If an Alabama sports betting initiative still isn’t on the table by the end of March, though, it effectively puts the nail in the coffin for 2025. 

Of course, we should know more before the end of March. Lawmakers will not suddenly return and propose a bill. It will be in the offing before then. All of which means the next week or two may determine the fate of Alabama sports betting—at least for the next year.

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