Any ideas of Alabama legalizing sports betting may be dead in the water, a senator suggested to local media this week.
Sen. Greg Albritton told Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal” that such a proposal would not find enough support in the Senate to carry it forward as he is “two or three votes shy” in the chamber.
“I would have a bill today dropped if I had 21 votes in the Senate,” Albritton acknowledged, per 1891 News. “I don’t have 21 votes in the Senate and I’ve got to have 21 votes to move this along …
“In my opinion, Alabama has a moral obligation to take control of this industry and to regulate it, to protect the public. We have that obligation, and yet we can’t seem to get 21 votes to take this in and to control it.”
Last year’s House progress stalled in Senate
Albritton has pushed for sports wagering in previous years. Two separate bills to legalize sports betting as well as casinos and a state lottery passed in the House of Representatives last year but died in the Senate after sports betting was removed from the proposals.
Prior to the start of the current session, House leaders said sports betting legislation would have to come from the Senate to be considered in 2025.
Any effort to launch a market in Alabama would require a constitutional amendment and a public vote.
The fact that the Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PCI), who opposed the House’s proposal last year, purchased the Birmingham Racecourse has not provided extra momentum this year, said Albritton.
“That has been investigated, if you will, as to how that would change,” he said. “I haven’t seen a change.”
House reps bet on Super Bowl
Adding to Albritton’s apparent frustration is the fact that representatives in the House enjoyed informal bets on Super Bowl LIX earlier this month.
“Keep in mind now, last week, before Sunday’s Super Bowl, bets were being made in the State House, I’ll say it that way, on the upcoming Super Bowl,” he added. “Bets were being made. I think Jalen Hurts made a lot of money for people in Alabama in that win.”
The chances of the Alabama public being able to bet on next year’s Super Bowl with legal sportsbooks appears slim.
