Alabama legislator introduces bill on state lottery and sports wagering.
Senate Bill 257 would allow voters to decide on the establishment of a state lottery and sports wagering.
US.- Senator Merika Coleman has referred a new bill on gambling to the Alabama Senate Tourism Committee. Senate Bill 257 would amend Section 65 of the Alabama Constitution of 2022 to allow the Alabama legislature to establish a state lottery and introduce regulated sports betting.
The amendment would allow in-person casino-style games and in-person and online sports wagering. The proposal includes the establishment of a new regulatory entity to license and regulate all gaming authorised by the Legislature.
The bill would allow the Governor to negotiate a Tribal-State gaming compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. This would cover the operation and regulation of Class III gaming and sports betting conducted on tribal lands held in trust. According to federal law, such agreements must be submitted to the US Secretary of the Interior for review and approval and may include a waiver of state sovereign immunity for dispute resolution relating to the compact.
If passed, the proposal will be placed on the ballot for voters. It would need more than half of the voters in the state to support it to go forward.
