The 2026 Alabama State Legislature session has commenced, yet gambling-related legislation has not been included on the agenda for the first time in years. As one of the only five states without a lottery, Alabama's process of legalizing gambling has repeatedly faced setbacks, with developments now drawing industry attention through the PASA official website.
Legislative Status: Not Scheduled for 2026
The state legislature leadership has clearly stated that there is insufficient support for gambling legislation, and it is highly unlikely to proceed in 2026. Senate Pro Tempore Garland Gudger revealed that further judgment could only be made after the party caucus meeting on January 13, but as it stands, "this issue will not be discussed this year."
House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, who pushed for a comprehensive gambling legislation package in 2024, also stated that any gambling proposals must first be initiated by the Senate, and despite multiple communications, Gudger has never mentioned any related plans. This means that gambling legislation in Alabama is essentially off the table for 2026.
Core Obstacles: Constitutional Thresholds and Multiple Controversies
The advancement of gambling legislation is challenging, with core issues rooted in multiple rigid thresholds and divisive controversies:
Constitutional requirements are stringent, as any bill authorizing lotteries or expanding gambling must first become a constitutional amendment, not only requiring the support of two-thirds of both houses but also a statewide referendum. The comprehensive gambling package of 2024 failed by one vote in the Senate.
There is ongoing controversy over the allocation of gambling tax revenues, which has been a significant barrier to legislative progress.
Public support is weak; the last statewide lottery referendum was in 1999, where 54% of voters cast ballots against it, and public attitudes towards the legalization of gambling still show significant divisions.
Stakeholder Attitudes: Support Continues, Implementation Still Distant
Despite legislative obstacles, many forces are still pushing for the legalization of gambling:
Governor Kay Ivey has consistently supported letting the public decide on gambling issues through voting, expressing disappointment over legislative failures and stating that "the people of Alabama have the right to choose for themselves." In 2020, she also established a special gambling committee, which reported that a comprehensive gambling plan could generate up to $80 million annually.
Gubernatorial candidates have expressed their positions, with Republican U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville and former Democratic U.S. Senator Doug Jones both supporting the legislation, believing it could bring substantial revenue to the state government and fill funding gaps in education and healthcare.
The Poarch Creek Indian Tribe is also actively working, having purchased the Birmingham Race Course in 2024 and hired a lobbying firm to optimize communication strategies, hoping to promote gambling-related legislation.
However, previous legislative failures have left many supporters disheartened. Senator Gregg Albritton openly stated that the 2025 failure could set back the gambling issue by 20 years, making it extremely difficult to turn things around in 2026.
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leaders," a gambling industry news channel:https://t.me/pasa_news
Original in-depth gambling channel:https://t.me/gamblingdeep
Free data reports: @pasa_research
PASA Matrix: @pasa002_bot
PASA official website: https://www.pasa.news
