Gambling

News / Legislature / State

Prepare for more gambling debates in the 2020 Legislative Session

More gambling arguments are on their way. Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, the House budget chairman, told several media outlets on Monday that he planned to file legislation that would create an education lottery in Alabama. Clouse’s bill would create a paper lottery with scratch-offs and PowerBall options, but would exclude video lottery terminals. Clouse said … Continued

Josh Moon

January 28, 2020

PCI is offering a billion dollars, how much is that?

Poarch Band of Creek Indians is offering the state a billion dollars for a state-guaranteed monopoly on its gambling operations and allowing it to expand its casinos to include Birmingham and a yet unnamed location in North Alabama. How much is a billion dollars? PCI gaming, using revenues from its gaming operations in Alabama, last … Continued

Bill Britt

January 13, 2020

McCutcheon: Brick and mortar will be part of state’s prison reform

Thursday, Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon (R-Monrovia) spoke to the Alabama Association of County Commissioners about the prison crisis and told them that “Construction is going to be on the table.” “When you look at the facilities, some of them are so old that it is not cost productive to put money in to … Continued

Brandon Moseley

December 6, 2019

McCutcheon is open to grand deal on gambling

House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, said Wednesday that he is open to a deal on gambling. The speaker of the House was in Auburn for the Alabama Association of County Commissioners meeting. “The lottery has been up for the last two years,” McCutcheon said. “Here is the bottom line in the (Republican) caucus. Out of … Continued

Brandon Moseley

December 5, 2019

Pat Dye announces his opposition to Poarch Creek gaming monopoly

Thursday, former Auburn head football Coach Pat Dye expressed his opposition to a proposal giving the Poarch Creek Band of Indians (PCI) a monopoly on gambling in the state of Alabama. Coach Pat Dye held a news conference in Montgomery with the leaders of PCAN (Poarch Creek Accountability Now), a group that has organized to … Continued

Brandon Moseley

November 25, 2019

Opinion

Self-interested lawmakers are why Alabama gambling laws are so messed up

There are many, many reasons for the mess that is Alabama’s current predicament with gambling — bad laws, lazy and indifferent lawmakers, under-the-table money, constitutional amendments and outside influences all playing roles. But one of the biggest is dishonest politicians with personal gain at stake. People like state Sen. Greg Albritton. If you’re unfamiliar with … Continued

Josh Moon

November 15, 2019

Opinion

Time to stop daydreaming about a lottery

Lottery supporters were left saying “so close …” last week after the latest attempt to establish the game in Alabama collapsed under the weight of competing interests and power plays. It was reminiscent of the failed lotto player, successfully matching his numbers one by one until his hopes are dashed when that final digit proves … Continued

J. Pepper Bryars

May 30, 2019

Legislature approves fantasy sports contests

On Tuesday, the Senate passed a bill that would allow fantasy sports contests to be played legally in Alabama. House Bill 361 is sponsored by State Rep. Kyle South, R-Fayette. During the House debate, South said fantasy sports contest are games of skill and are not games of chance. Gambling is forbidden by the Alabama … Continued

Brandon Moseley

May 29, 2019

Opinion

Counteroffer: A gaming plan the dog track owners would likely accept

Last week, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians laid out its starting point for any negotiations concerning a lottery and gambling legislation. Arthur Mothershed, who’s in charge of the tribe’s business development for gaming operations, spelled out PCI’s base plan, which included hefty licensing fees for other casino locations, new casinos in Birmingham and northeast … Continued

Josh Moon

May 28, 2019