“We’ve been struggling with this for 25-26 years already … I don’t see anything changing,” said Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore. He added he was “disappointed, extremely so,” in Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger’s statement late Thursday that the gambling and lottery measure wasn’t going anywhere this spring. “We’ve tried everything we can on this bill over the years,” Albritton said. “One thing has been proven is that it doesn’t matter what the bills says, period. If the word ‘gaming’ or ‘gambling’ shows up on the page, it’s a ‘no’ vote.”

Some lawmakers on Friday expressed relief that Gudger, R-Cullman, had killed the issue for 2025.

Bigger issues

Albritton’s bill that spelled out the latest gambling plan was at 141 pages, and included some similarities that have been dangled before: a state lottery, electronic gambling at six sites that include former greyhound tracks and existing bingo halls, sports wagering, and a negotiated compact or revenue-sharing agreement with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians to allow full-scale casinos with table games at the tribe’s three existing electronic bingo halls in Alabama.

With only 12 days left in the session, Alabama State House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, agreed with Gudger’s stance, emphasizing that lawmakers have “more pressing matters” to tackle.

The priorities that are expected to consume lawmakers’ time include adopting regulations on hemp-based products, consideration of a new health plans for the Alabama Farmers Federation, and regulations on pharmacy benefit managers (PBM).

Albritton’s latest attempt to get gambling and lottery going in the Alabama Senate came about one year after the Senate, by a 1-vote difference, shot down a comprehensive gambling and lottery plan that had been approved out of the Alabama House.

It was the closest Alabama lawmakers had gotten to getting a proposal out of the legislature and before Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey for consideration. The 1-vote difference separated the legislative branch from the public in offering voters a chance to decide if a constitutional amendment should be approved legalizing lottery and certain forms of gambling.

It was unclear where the voting was at within the Senate.

Albritton said a deal had been struck earlier on Thursday on an issue within the legislation that would “get two positive votes,” before he said Gudger decided to kill the matter for the session later in the afternoon.

At least one senator, who voted “no” on last year’s plan, said he had not even had a chance to read the latest version.

Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, who voted “no” on last year’s bill out of concerns that it included earmarks for things he didn’t support, said he believes the vote count was “definitive” in opposing it.

“It indicated there was no way to make up any ground,” Elliott said. “This thing was going to linger and take up time and energy and not get to a positive outcome and solution. If it’s going to die, put it out of its misery. It was a smart move for the caucus … for everyone.”

Not going to die

Polling has shown overwhelming support for gambling and lottery, especially the lottery. A poll taken in November 2023 by KAConsulting, -headed up by Kellyanne Conway, the campaign manager for President Donald Trump in 2016 - showed a whopping 80% support for lottery and 64% backing for casinos. The poll consisted of 60% of people identifying as Republican.

Alabama is one of only five states without a lottery.

“Folks want and appreciate the right to vote,” said Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, and a supporter of 2024 measure.

The issue is likely to animate the 2026 political campaigns, which kick off later this summer and fall.

At least one political consultant says the lack of action on gambling and lottery will be a major campaign issue during the 2026 statewide contests.

“This issue is not going to die,” said Jonathan Gray, a Mobile-based political strategist.

Jones said that when he first campaigned for office, constituents in his district that abuts with the Alabama-Georgia state line called for an opportunity to vote on legalizing casino gambling and lottery. He called it the “No. 1 question” he gets from constituents and doesn’t see the issue dying.

“Overwhelmingly, they want the right to vote on the issues,” Jones said. “It’s frustrating. It’s disappointing we won’t get anything over the finish line.”

Elliott said he anticipates the issue getting reconsidered, but likely not until after the 2026 statewide elections.

Bell, who also voted “no” on last year’s bill, said the concerns with the comprehensive packages is how the money generated by gaming revenues will be spent. He said his biggest concern involves earmarking for things that might not be future priorities for Alabamians.

“It’s these little details that are put in the back of these bills that you must look at,” Bell said.

Sen. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, who was also a “no” vote last year, said the changes in the gambling and lottery packages become dizzying and complicated for lawmakers, all of whom have different interests.

“One of the problems you run into is that you have an agreement on certain things and then you see them change one thing on it and you get another vote and then lose someone else,” Kelley said. “It’s a tricky situation. You have everyone wanting a piece of the pie. You get 140 people in the legislature looking at this and everyone wanting something different.”