As the Alabama Legislature commenced its 2026 session on Tuesday, it appears that gambling issues may not be addressed for the first time in several years. Legislative leaders conveyed that there isn't sufficient support for gambling legislation to advance this year. This comes on the heels of comments from key gambling advocate Senator Greg Albritton, who suggested that the failures of 2025 may have set the state's gambling efforts back by two decades.
Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger indicated that some discussions might arise during the upcoming caucus on January 13, but he was not optimistic about the chances for gambling legislation this year. "We won’t know until our first caucus, but we’ll start talking about it, and probably by the end of January, we’ll kind of see what is the feel of everyone on that particular subject," Gudger shared. However, he added, "if I had to give you my gut feeling, I would say it would not be coming up this year."
House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, who spearheaded a 2024 gambling package, reiterated that any proposals for 2025 would need to originate in the Senate. "We certainly don’t have anything. It’d have to come out of the Senate, first of all," he said, noting that he and Gudger have not discussed the issue.
Alabama remains one of five states without a lottery, and any legislative attempt to authorize a lottery or expand gambling requires a constitutional amendment, which demands a two-thirds majority in both chambers before reaching a statewide ballot.
There have been previous attempts to expand gambling. Ledbetter's push in 2024 included proposals for a lottery, casinos, and sports betting, along with a gambling compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Although the package passed the House, it fell one vote short in the Senate.
Albritton opted not to propose any gambling legislation last year due to a lack of support and has made the same choice this year. One significant concern for legislators appears to be how the state would allocate tax revenue from gambling.
The last statewide vote on a lottery took place in 1999, with the public rejecting it by a vote of 54% to 46%. In response to the stagnation in the legislature, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians are focusing their efforts on gambling issues to improve their messaging to legislators. In 2024, the tribe acquired the Birmingham Race Course and secured the services of the lobbying firm Fine Geddie.
Governor Kay Ivey has been a prominent advocate for allowing Alabamians to vote on gambling matters. Over the years, she has supported various proposals and expressed disappointment when legislation did not pass. "I was disappointed that they did not get the gambling bill passed," Ivey stated in 2022. "Not that I am so much for gambling, but I do think the people of Alabama ought to have the right to make that decision."
In 2020, Ivey established a select committee on gaming, which reported that a comprehensive package could generate up to $800 million annually. Albritton emphasized that the support of the governor is vital for advancing gambling legislation.
As Alabama approaches its gubernatorial election this November, which will usher in a new governor in 2027, candidates are increasingly vocal on gambling issues. Like Ivey, several gubernatorial hopefuls are weighing in. U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville stated that Alabamians deserve a chance to vote on the matter. "I hear people say they want a lottery, they want both a lottery and gambling, they want a sportsbook, they want horse racing, dog racing, all this," he remarked. "It all goes back to one thing: do your study, do your due diligence, sell the good on both sides to the people in Alabama."
Former Democratic U.S. Senator Doug Jones expressed his intent to advocate for a state lottery in a recent social media video, asserting, "We’re missing out on millions, hundreds of millions of dollars. We gotta change that. We need to vote on a lottery this year."
Democratic State Representative Phillip Ensler, who announced his candidacy for lieutenant governor last month, also committed to advancing gambling legislation to support state programs. "I hear from people all over the state – Democrat, Republican, white, black, poor, more affluent – that say it’s crazy that we don’t have a state lottery," Ensler explained. "People cross over state lines to buy lotto tickets and we’re missing out on hundreds of millions of dollars that could be used for education or could be used for healthcare."
