Alabama Sports Betting Feasible
Alabama could become the latest state to legalise sports betting. Two proposed bills were passed by the House on Thursday, February 16th, with the future legalisation of sports betting in the state now being more feasible than ever.
One Step Closer
The House passing the bill brings sports betting in Alabama one step closer, but there are still a few more obstacles it will need to overcome. Bills HB151 and HB152 were both passed and sponsored by House Representative Chris Blackshear.
Bill HB151 proposed the legalisation of retail and online sports betting in areas of the state that already have bingo games. It would also negotiate a deal with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, which already operates casinos in Alabama.
The second bill would create a lottery and gaming commission in the state to regulate the Alabama gambling market.
The two bills will now be passed to the Upper House. If this passes, then Bill HB151, which is a constitutional amendment, will still need to pass a public vote and will be added to the Alabama ballot in November.
Finally, the state’s Governor, Kay Ivey, would also need to pass the bills. However, she has already publicly stated the bills in their current form have her support. Ivey has stated that the proposals will help the state clamp down on unregulated and illegal gambling. It will also give the state the power to regulate the market and place its own limits on betting.
Public Power
After the bill had been approved, Chris Blackshear told the local press that the public’s voice had been represented. He said, “From the house perspective, we heard you loud and clear from the polling, and we’re giving the citizens the right to decide what they want in the state as it relates to gaming”.
Blackshear also addressed the potentially huge financial benefits that legalising sports betting would have. He stated that gambling could bring in an estimated $1.2 billion into the state, with nearly half of that, $492 million, coming from casinos.
