As the Alabama Legislature gaveled in the 2026 session Tuesday, it appears gambling issues will not be on the docket for the first time in several years.
Legislative leadership in Alabama said heading into the session that gambling legislation seemingly lacked support to be brought up in 2026. That comes after last year when key gambling proponent Senator Greg Albritton said the lack of gambling success in 2025 likely set the issue back 20 years.
Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger stated, “We won’t know until our first caucus, which will be January 13, 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,” according to AL.com. “But if I had to give you a gut feeling right now, I would say it wouldn’t be coming up this year.”
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Any 2025 proposal would have to begin in the Senate, according to House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, who oversaw a gaming package in 2024. This year, Ledbetter reiterated her assertion.
“To be sure, we have nothing. First and foremost, it would need to pass the Senate, he stated. “And [Gudger] and I have spoken several times, and it has never been brought up.”
Alabama’s passivity about gambling matters
Five states do not have lotteries, including Alabama. A constitutional amendment is necessary for any law that seeks to legalize lotteries or increase gaming. Two-thirds of both chambers must approve an amendment before it can be put to a statewide vote.
In the past, there was momentum. In 2024, Ledbetter promoted sports betting, casinos, and lotteries. A gambling agreement with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians was also part of it. The House approved the bill, but the Senate rejected it by one vote.
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