Speaker of the House says gambling is dead for the 2024 session

The gambling legislation appears to be dead for the 2024 legislative session, according to Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter

Throughout the final day of the session, several representatives expressed wanting to hold the education budgets to force a second vote on gambling in the Senate.

Each chamber has to pass the general fund and education budgets before the end of the session.

The House recessed for several hours during the day.

“There were some ideas we could get something for the people. When they’d seen it just wasn’t going to happen, we decided it was time to move on. That was kind of it. It wasn’t a major push. It was just something they’d seen some opportunities. Certainly, we listened to those and gave that a chance to look at it but it just wasn’t possible,” said Ledbetter.

Ledbetter said he would not push gambling again in 2025.

“We gave it every effort we could,” said Ledbetter. “We tried to fix a problem. I think it is an issue. I don’t know how long you can keep your head in the sand. That’s a fact of life.”

He expected illegal gambling to continue.

There were a few calls for a special session to take on gambling. Governor Kay Ivey is not keen on the idea.

“Why would I do that? They can’t come to any consensus among themselves currently. Why would I spend the time and effort and money on the special session? I am disappointed the gambling bill isn’t going to get to the people,” said Ivey.

The House ultimately concurred with the conference committee reports for the education budgets and adjourned for the legislative session.

The Senate concurred with the budgets. They go to Governor Kay Ivey.

The Senate adjourned without voting on gambling–officially killing it for the session.

This story will be updated.