Alabama Lawmakers to Begin the 2024 Legislative Session with a Host of Issues Including a Gambling Bill
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (February 5, 2024) — Alabama lawmakers return to Montgomery on Tuesday to begin the 2024 legislative session with a focus on introducing lottery and casino legislation. However, the outlook for the proposed bill is uncertain. House members are working on negotiating a constitutional amendment to present to voters, seeking approval for a state lottery and a limited number of casino sites.
House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter expressed that many people in Alabama are eager to vote on a constitutional amendment, emphasizing its potential to address illegal gambling operations that have proliferated throughout the state.
It’s noteworthy that there hasn’t been a statewide vote on gambling in Alabama since the failed lottery proposal by Governor Don Siegelman in 1999. Previous bills have faced challenges due to a combination of opposition and disagreements over the allocation of casino licenses.
Republican Senator Greg Albritton, who has proposed gambling legislation before, suggested that the bill might specify between six and eight casino sites. He also warned that if the gambling bill isn’t passed this year, it could be another generation before it is revisited.
The success of the proposed legislation will likely depend on the ability of lawmakers to navigate these challenges and reach a consensus on the terms of the constitutional amendment.
