Former NBA star Charles Barkley has expressed enthusiasm about the idea of being part of a casino ownership group in Alabama, and at least one state senator is on board.
The Alabama native and Auburn University alumnus told AL.com‘s Roy Johnson that he is keen on the idea of being part of an ownership group in a future casino endeavor in the state.
“Hell yeah. I would love to be part of it.”
Gambling expansion advocate Sen. Greg Albritton is trying his best to keep it on the agenda in the state.
He told the Alabama Daily News on Friday that he has drafted a new bill that would create the Alabama Gaming Commission, legalize sports betting, require the state to enter into a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, and seek a referendum to let voters decide whether to introduce a state lottery, among other things.
Albritton reiterated comments he made earlier this year, noting that he is looking for some more signatures before filing the bill. However, he told the Daily News that he could introduce the legislation even if only to spark more conversations about the idea of expanding gambling.
“Frankly, I think we’re closer than we want to admit,” he suggested. “That’s part of the reason for the stalemate. We’re close, but it’s so much easier not to make a decision … Why stick your head out of the trench if you don’t have to?”
Barkley joins tribe in supporting sports betting
Last year, a bill to legalize a state lottery, casinos and sports betting died in the Senate late in the legislative session after passing the House, and the latter chamber said before this year’s session that the Senate would need to kickstart any effort in 2025.
Any such bill would need 21 votes to reach the required majority to pass in the Senate.
The Daily News notes that the Poarch Indians, which currently operates casino resorts on tribal land, said they would support a bill that includes casinos, a state lottery and sports wagering.
Barkley told AL.com that he believes sports gambling should be part of any gambling proposal as “we need that money.”
Singleton hopes to team up with Barkley
Albritton’s fellow senator Bobby Singleton told AL.com that Black lawmakers in the state would want to include a stipulation that at least one casino must be majority Black-owned.
“It’s my people who walk through those doors more frequently than anyone else, we should at least have some ownership so that we could also be good corporate citizens in our communities,” he said.
Singleton hopes to work with Barkley to try to move things forward.
“Charles is a favorite in the state. I would love to see a group with someone like Mr. Barkley get involved with others to have real ownership, a true 51% that belongs to us, and make sure we could build a destination spot here in the state and bring forth the fruits of that industry to our community.
“I look forward to working with the Chairman [Albritton] and Mr. Barkley and whoever wants to sit down at the table and see if we can craft language to make sure we have some ownership participation in this process.”
