Alabama Legislature fails to pass gambling bill before session ends.

The Alabama Senate is currently at a standstill as gambling legislation remains stuck, creating uncertainty around the possibility of it receiving another vote before the legislative session ends. As the session draws to a close on Thursday, supporters of the bill are struggling to break a deadlock that emerged in the state Senate after the initial failure of the measure by a single vote last week. Despite efforts to bring the bill back for reconsideration, the chances of it happening are diminishing as time runs out.

Representative Chris Blackshear, the sponsor of the bill, expressed doubts about the bill’s fate, stating that it would require a “miracle of Biblical proportion” to garner enough support for it to be taken up by the Senate in the final two days of the session.

Blackshear emphasized the importance of senators understanding the widespread issues faced across all 67 counties, urging those who opposed the bill to witness firsthand the challenges that exist in their communities. The stakes are high as the debate on the gambling legislation continues amid a race against time.

One of the key points of contention in the stalled proposal is the authorization of a state lottery and the introduction of “electronic games of chance,” such as slot machines and video poker, at seven specific locations. While the Alabama House of Representatives approved the conference committee proposal with a comfortable margin of 72-29 votes, the bill fell short in the Senate, where a minimum of 21 votes was required for passage.

Senator Garlan Gudger, a member of the conference committee, expressed a pessimistic outlook on the bill’s future, indicating that it is unlikely to resurface for another vote. However, Representative Andy Whitt, who played a leading role in crafting the legislation, remains hopeful and optimistic about the Senate’s decision.

The impasse stems from differing versions of the bill passed by the House and Senate, leading to a challenging process of reconciling conflicting proposals. The House-backed plan included provisions for a lottery, sports betting, and the potential establishment of up to 10 casinos within the state, while the Senate opted for a more conservative approach, scaling back the scope of the gambling expansion.

Supporters of the bill have been pushing for a historic vote on gambling, seeking to address the issue for the first time in 25 years. The last significant ballot measure on gambling was in 1999 when voters rejected a lottery proposal put forth by then-Governor Don Siegelman.

As the clock ticks down on the legislative session, the fate of the gambling legislation hangs in the balance, with advocates and opponents closely watching the developments in the Alabama Senate. The outcome of this high-stakes debate will have far-reaching implications for the state’s gaming industry and its overall economic landscape.