The Alabama legislature is likely to see some form of gambling reform over the next couple of years, despite recent repeated failures to pass gambling-related bills. Rep. Chris Blackshear, an advocate for gambling expansion in the House, appeared on Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal” last week, indicating a conversation is expected to happen.
Key Takeaways
- Alabama Rep. Chris Blackshear expects a conversation around gambling reform to return to the legislative agenda.
- Rep. Blackshear points to the rise of illegal gaming and the potential of new tax revenue as reasons for gambling reform.
- His comments come at a time when no gambling bills have been passed in the 2025 and 2026 legislative sessions.
Blackshear said that lawmakers were currently not “working on anything” regarding gambling expansion, but noted that it was a conversation that needed to happen in the next four years. He reasoned that gambling was already active in the state through illegal alternatives and added that it was an untapped revenue source.
His comments come after the 2025 and 2026 legislative sessions ended with no gambling legislation being approved, extending Alabama's status as one of the few states without legal casinos, sports betting, or a state lottery.
Debate over gambling legalization has become a regular feature of legislative sessions, but there has so far been no agreement on the issue. Analysts say that the deadlock is not driven by a lack of political discussion but by differing priorities in the two legislative chambers.
The House has consistently favored a competitive commercial gambling market, while the Senate supports a more limited approach based on the interests of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
The disagreement has remained unresolved despite years of negotiations and several proposals. Blackshear's latest comments indicate that the issue remains a live one in the House, at least, and is likely to resurface in the next legislature.
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Primary spending showed gambling sector commitment
A sign of the determination of pro-gambling interests to bring about legalization in Alabama came back in May, when national sports betting operators invested in the Republican primary elections.
The American Conservative Fund, a political action committee that is backed by sports betting companies DraftKings and FanDuel, spent over $9.3 million supporting candidates ahead of the state's primaries, and reports suggest that the PAC backed 17 Republican candidates, with 12 winning their primary races.
The spending was one of the biggest political investments by the sports betting industry in Alabama and also suggested a change in strategy, with operators seeking to influence the makeup of the legislature before future gambling bills are considered.
At the time of the primary investment, analysts said that Alabama was an attractive but difficult market for the industry, despite its lack of any legal gambling, because of its large population and its strong interest in college football.
The primary spending also underlined the industry's willingness to engage in state politics well before any debate over legislation. While the investment did not guarantee that future gambling proposals would pass, it was an indication that sports betting operators intend to play a greater role in shaping Alabama's political landscape ahead of future reform efforts.
