State Sen. Gudger: Gambling bill to likely come up again in 2025;…

According to State Sen. Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman), the Alabama Legislature will likely reconsider gambling legislation in 2025, similar to the bill that failed to pass by one vote in the Senate last month.

The constitutional amendment and enabling legislation that stalled in the Senate in the last few days of the 2024 legislative session would’ve legalized seven “electronic gaming facilities” across the state, establish a lottery, and require the governor to enter into a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PCI).

The constitutional amendment prohibits all forms of gambling besides a state education lottery, electronic games of chance, traditional raffles and traditional paper bingos. The constitutional amendment would have legalized so-called “electronic games of chance” at racetracks in Greene, Jefferson, Macon, and Mobile Counties and bingo hall locations in Greene, Houston, and Lowndes Counties. The legislation defined “electronic games of chance” as electronic gambling machines, including, but not limited to, any slot machines as defined in 15 U.S.C. § 1171(a)(1), pachinko, video lottery terminals, and video poker; electronic bingo machines; and historical horse racing machines.

Gudger said at a Cullman County Republican Women’s meeting on Tuesday that a similar bill could be coming back in next year’s session. He added that a clean lottery bill would also be introduced but said it wouldn’t pass “because of special interests.”

“That bill failed by one vote,” Gudger outlined. “I do think there will be a vote that comes up next year probably very close to this same bill.”

“There is a bill that’s coming that’s a clean lottery bill with nothing else on it, which I think everybody would vote for, but because of special interests, I’m just telling you now it’s not going to pass,” he added.

Watch [Relevant portion beginning around the 30:00 mark.]:

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