Albritton Struggles to Rally Votes for Alabama Gambling Bill

Albritton’s Push Hits Snags

On Tuesday, the Republican from Range tweaked his bill’s revenue split to win over the Senate, earmarking $150 million for roads, $75 million from a lottery, and $75 million from other gaming, plus 4% of gambling cash for county road projects.

A prior nod to healthcare stability got cut. Yet, Albritton still can’t nail down the 21 yeses needed in the 34-seat Senate to send this constitutional amendment to the House and voters.

The bill’s a big play: lottery tickets, Class II electronic gaming at six racetracks, sports betting, and a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians for tribal gaming.

It puts a 24% tax on gambling revenue, sets up an Alabama Gaming Commission with a law enforcement arm to tackle illegal ops, and scraps patchy county gambling rules.

But Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger calls it “like nailing Jello to the wall,” hinting at a fluid, uncertain mess with 13 or 14 session days left until mid-May.

Votes and Voices

Albritton’s hunting for support, but the tally’s short. Last year, a similar gambling package tanked in the Senate by one vote, and he’s not filing this one until he’s sure it’ll stick. Gudger hasn’t seen the latest draft and says the Senate’s busy with other bills, leaving gambling on shaky ground.

Meanwhile, the House is stirring its own pot. Rep. Jeremy Gray’s HB 490 pitches sports betting, electronic games, and a lottery with a lighter 10% tax, showing both chambers are in the game but not synced up.

Time’s ticking, and Albritton warns waiting lets illegal gambling run wild, costing Alabama cash it could grab. He’s banking on a September 2025 special election to fast-track it if it passes, but political jitters loom with 2026 elections nearing. Some senators might balk, fearing voter backlash over dicey issues like this.