Will the Alabama Senate vote for the expansion of gaming in their state?

Alabama legislators have been working to expand gaming in the Cotton State. However, there have been some roadblocks along the way. House Bills 151 and 152 will introduce a gaming referendum in the state along with a regulatory framework to govern gaming expansion. Both Bills passed in the House but have since faced hurdles trying to be passed in the Senate. 

Senator Greg Albritton was the chief sponsor of the gaming expansion bill in Alabama. When the Senate could not reach an agreement, a conference committee was created to help settle the differences between the House and the Senate. Mr. Albritton was one of six members on that committee. They’ve worked hard to try and find a resolution. Albritton said the fate of Alabama Gaming now lies in the hands of lawmakers. 

The conference committee wants to include seven racinos in Alabama. They would have slot machines and electronic gaming but zero live table games. Additionally, they recommended that Governor Kay Ivey should enter a Class III compact with the Poach Band of Creek Indians. That would allow slots and live dealers at their current bingo-based gaming resorts.  Finally, the committee wants to add a state-run lottery that includes the Mega Millions and Powerball.

What initially made House Bills 151 and 152 stalls from being fully legalized?

In Alabama, three-fifths majority support is needed in each chamber to initiate the elect question. When the conference committee met, their recommendations were quickly passed and supported by the House. Similar to how it played out when House Bills 151 and 152 were first introduced. Now that the House has passed the conference committed changes, the gaming bills move to the Senate. 

Initially, the Senate voted 20-15 on House Bill 151 and fell one vote shy of the 21 votes needed or the three-fifths threshold. Lawmakers thought the bill was defeated but Senate Secretary Pat Harris noted that that initial vote was a “test vote”. That means that House Bill 151 will be voted on again. If that passes with a three-fifths majority, then House Bill 152 could also be voted on by the Senate. 

The Senate is expected to meet today to re-vote on these gaming bills. Despite being the chief sponsor of gaming expansion in Alabama, Senator Greg Albritton voted “no” to pass House Bill 151. He opposes the committee's decision to allow the Poach Band of Creek Indians to expand their commercial casinos.   

If House Bills 151 and 152 were passed, Alabamans would be asked to support the gaming package during a special election in late August. Republicans in Alabama refuse to have this referendum voted on in the fall Presidential election.