Larry has decades of experience in the U.S. gambling industry, with a deep understanding of how casinos operate and evolve under changing regulations.Drawing on years of insight from Las Vegas and beyond - including work with the Las Vegas Sun, Reno Gazette-Journal and KFSM-TV 5NEWS - he specialises in uncovering the stories, trends and decisions that drive the casino industry across North America.
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR) 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
State Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, said his bill to expand gaming appears doomed with only a handful of legislative days remaining, according to the Associated Press.
Albritton’s bill would create a state lottery, sports betting, five full casinos and two “satellite” casinos, each with up to 300 slot machines.
The effort to expand gaming would require a constitutional amendment. This means Albritton’s bill would need a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate and approval from the public in a statewide election.
With the clock ticking at the statehouse in Montgomery, approval seems unlikely, the senator said. The bill has not come up for a vote in the Senate.
“I think the issue is dead,” Albritton said.
One factor contributing to the lack of support is the upcoming election cycle, he said. In some districts, incumbents might fear a backlash from anti-gaming voters.
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit http://gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new customer. Must register new account to receive reward Token. Must select Token BEFORE placing min. $5 bet to receive $200 in Bonus Bets if your bet wins. Min. -500 odds req. Token and Bonus Bets are single-use and non-withdrawable. Token expires 1/11/26. Bonus Bets expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: http://sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos . Ends 1/4/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.
Separate Lottery Bill Lack Supports
A separate bill to create a lottery also probably will be bottled up at the Capitol this year, according to Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollinger’s Island.
Alabama is one of five states without a lottery. The others are Hawaii, Alaska, Nevada and Utah.
Even if the House approved the lottery bill, it would face problems in the Senate, Brown said.
The lottery bill also would require a constitutional amendment.
“I would say more than likely, just given the time constraints, that we won’t be moving forward to put it on the floor, Brown said.
Must be 21+ to participate. T&Cs Apply. Play Responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, DC, IL, KY, LA, MD, MS, NJ, OH, PA, VA, WV, WY), Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS), 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov. (NC), Call or Text 800-889-9789 (TN).
Only Two Gulf Coast States Have Legal Sports Betting
If the sports betting bill dies in Alabama this year, that would leave only two of five states along the Gulf of Mexico with legal sports wagering — Louisiana and Mississippi.
Sports betting is illegal in Texas and Alabama, and is legal but not operational in Florida.
On Oct. 31, the first in-person legal sports bet was placed inside a commercial casino in Louisiana. On-site sports betting is operational now in more than a dozen of the state’s casinos and racinos.
In Mississippi, a proposal to approve off-site mobile sports betting was unsuccessful during this year’s legislative session at the Capitol in Jackson.
However, on-site sports-betting is legal inside Mississippi’s casinos. Mississippi is home to 26 state-regulated casinos, with 12 of those located along the Gulf Coast.
Legal Sports Betting Spreads Nationwide
Nationwide, sports betting is operational in 30 states and Washington, D.C., according to the American Gaming Association. It is legal but not operational in three states — Nebraska, Ohio and Florida.
The Seminole Tribe of Florida briefly launched a mobile sports betting app last year, but it soon was discontinued in a federal court dispute.
Sports betting is illegal in the nation’s two most populous states, California and Texas.
No Comments Yet.
Url copied!
Get Unrestricted Access
Join the excitement!
Create a FREE Account
- So many have already secured their premium access.