A spokesperson for FanDuel told LegalSportsReport that the sports gambling giant was 'working hard to bring our fantasy sports products to Alabama residents.' If things go according to plan. Sports Betting in Alabama is actually an industry that is not entirely illegal in Alabama, depending on how you look at the laws. If you want to play the odds, you will not have too much trouble doing so by way of the various options we have found.
Alabama lawmakers propose a bill that would bring sports betting to the state.
Representatives Mike Rogers and Mary Moore have introduced Bill 315 in the Alabama House that permits professional and collegiate sports gambling to occur inside the state.
Individuals inside the Alabama state lines will be able to bet on-site and via a mobile app if the bill becomes law.
The bill would also create the Alabama Sports Wagering Commission in order to regulate the betting market at seven locations already established around the state.
The Commission would be in charge of overseeing sports wagering at the seven locations, with the establishment to be charged $100,000 licensing fee that would last for five years.
HB315 sets the tax rate at 10% for all adjusted gross sports revenue and the tax is collected by the state weekly.
On the heels of a similar bill that was introduced in Louisiana, Alabama looks to join the handful of states that have already passed legislation for both onsite and mobile sports wagering.
The Alabama Legislative Session ends on June 18th, giving lawmakers less than 11 weeks to turn the sports wagering measure into law.
Does the Alabama bill have a chance to pass?
If you look at the recent history in Alabama of lawmakers trying and failing to pass measures to legalize daily fantasy sports, then the outlook is grim.
After several attempts to get a daily fantasy sports bill to Governor Kay Ivey's desk for signature, legislators believe that dream is no longer viable.
In 2016, attorney general Luther Strange drove companies like FanDuel and DraftKings out of the state with a series of cease-and-desist letters.
At a press conference, Strange said, 'As Attorney General, it is my duty to uphold Alabama law, including the laws against illegal gambling. Daily fantasy sports operators claim that they operate legally under Alabama law. However, paid daily fantasy sports contests are in fact illegal gambling under Alabama law.'
The denial of the DFS bill left Alabama as one of only nine states that do not allow some form of online fantasy sports in the United States.
Critics in the state that argue against sports betting lean on the same reasons that most groups that oppose gambling use as their platform.
Those reasons include a fear of addiction to the populace, a consensus rejection of gambling by faith-based groups, and the fact that it simply isn't worth the headache for the state for the small amount of revenue it generates.
One of the biggest opposition groups in the state is the Alabama Citizens Action Program.
Funded by the state's Southern Baptists coalition, the ACAP is a strong force in keeping gambling out of Alabama.
'The pro-gambling forces are always pushing for more and more, and they always use the ‘other state around you' as an excuse that other states are going doing it so why can't we?' said Joe Godfrey, the executive director of ACAP.
'The reality is that the whole thing is just a way to make money for the gambling bosses. They are the big winners.'
For residents of Alabama who love sports betting, it looks like they'll continue to be forced to drive to neighboring Mississippi, where wagering on games has been legal since last year.
However, if you reside in New Jersey and want to bet on sports you can do so today, at one of these sportsbooks:
| Betting Site | Bonus | Rating | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UP TO $500 FREE BET* | 9.1/10 | |
| 888Sport | $500 | 9.3/10 | |
| BetStars | UP TO $500 RISK FREE BET | 9.2/10 |
The Alabama Legislature has seen a flurry of activity regarding gambling legislation this week. Grosvenor casino coventry new york.
Thursday was a particularly busy day as a Senate committee heard testimony on two bills regarding a state lottery. In addition, a state representative filed his second bill in three days regarding sports betting.
One reason for the amount of legislation could be the lack of gambling opportunities in the state. Currently, the state allows only pari-mutuel betting on greyhounds and horse racing, along with bingo. The Porach Creek Indians also run three casinos in the state, but none offer table games.
Lottery Bills Discussed
Alabama remains one of just five states that does not offer a lottery, joining Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah.
However, two state Senators have sponsored bills that would call for an amendment to the state Constitution and allow for one. The amendment would require voters to pass the measure in an election.
State Sen. Jim McClendon (R-Springville) filed Senate Bill 130 last month. His bill would allow the state lottery to use video terminals for such activities as keno, iLottery, and multistate games. However, in a bill filed Tuesday by state Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Range), his proposed lottery would only allow paper ticketed lottery games.
McClendon's bill establishes a 22 percent gross receipts tax on gaming revenue. It also estimates the lottery would generate $237 million annually. His bill also would open the door to sports betting in the state, although it would allow the legislature to establish the tax rate on those receipts
Albritton estimates his lottery proposal, Senate Bill 220, would generate more than $166 million each year. The initial proceeds from the lottery pay back the Alabama Trust Fund for nearly $184 million transferred from it to the state's general fund in previous years. After repayment, the two funds would begin splitting the proceeds evenly.
The Senate Tourism Committee heard testimony on both bills. The panel, however, took no vote on either.
The Eagle Forum of Alabama, a conservative grassroots organization, opposes both bills. In an interview with News Radio WLWI-AM in Montgomery, Executive Director Becky Gerritson said while it seems like a lottery would generate a lot of money, it would not produce many jobs and would create more addiction problems for the state to address.
I really feel that the negatives the lottery brings really outweigh the good that it's going to do,' Gerritson said. Pala casino android app.
Sports Betting Bills Introduced
If you look at the recent history in Alabama of lawmakers trying and failing to pass measures to legalize daily fantasy sports, then the outlook is grim.
After several attempts to get a daily fantasy sports bill to Governor Kay Ivey's desk for signature, legislators believe that dream is no longer viable.
In 2016, attorney general Luther Strange drove companies like FanDuel and DraftKings out of the state with a series of cease-and-desist letters.
At a press conference, Strange said, 'As Attorney General, it is my duty to uphold Alabama law, including the laws against illegal gambling. Daily fantasy sports operators claim that they operate legally under Alabama law. However, paid daily fantasy sports contests are in fact illegal gambling under Alabama law.'
The denial of the DFS bill left Alabama as one of only nine states that do not allow some form of online fantasy sports in the United States.
Critics in the state that argue against sports betting lean on the same reasons that most groups that oppose gambling use as their platform.
Those reasons include a fear of addiction to the populace, a consensus rejection of gambling by faith-based groups, and the fact that it simply isn't worth the headache for the state for the small amount of revenue it generates.
One of the biggest opposition groups in the state is the Alabama Citizens Action Program.
Funded by the state's Southern Baptists coalition, the ACAP is a strong force in keeping gambling out of Alabama.
'The pro-gambling forces are always pushing for more and more, and they always use the ‘other state around you' as an excuse that other states are going doing it so why can't we?' said Joe Godfrey, the executive director of ACAP.
'The reality is that the whole thing is just a way to make money for the gambling bosses. They are the big winners.'
For residents of Alabama who love sports betting, it looks like they'll continue to be forced to drive to neighboring Mississippi, where wagering on games has been legal since last year.
However, if you reside in New Jersey and want to bet on sports you can do so today, at one of these sportsbooks:
| Betting Site | Bonus | Rating | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UP TO $500 FREE BET* | 9.1/10 | |
| 888Sport | $500 | 9.3/10 | |
| BetStars | UP TO $500 RISK FREE BET | 9.2/10 |
The Alabama Legislature has seen a flurry of activity regarding gambling legislation this week. Grosvenor casino coventry new york.
Thursday was a particularly busy day as a Senate committee heard testimony on two bills regarding a state lottery. In addition, a state representative filed his second bill in three days regarding sports betting.
One reason for the amount of legislation could be the lack of gambling opportunities in the state. Currently, the state allows only pari-mutuel betting on greyhounds and horse racing, along with bingo. The Porach Creek Indians also run three casinos in the state, but none offer table games.
Lottery Bills Discussed
Alabama remains one of just five states that does not offer a lottery, joining Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah.
However, two state Senators have sponsored bills that would call for an amendment to the state Constitution and allow for one. The amendment would require voters to pass the measure in an election.
State Sen. Jim McClendon (R-Springville) filed Senate Bill 130 last month. His bill would allow the state lottery to use video terminals for such activities as keno, iLottery, and multistate games. However, in a bill filed Tuesday by state Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Range), his proposed lottery would only allow paper ticketed lottery games.
McClendon's bill establishes a 22 percent gross receipts tax on gaming revenue. It also estimates the lottery would generate $237 million annually. His bill also would open the door to sports betting in the state, although it would allow the legislature to establish the tax rate on those receipts
Albritton estimates his lottery proposal, Senate Bill 220, would generate more than $166 million each year. The initial proceeds from the lottery pay back the Alabama Trust Fund for nearly $184 million transferred from it to the state's general fund in previous years. After repayment, the two funds would begin splitting the proceeds evenly.
The Senate Tourism Committee heard testimony on both bills. The panel, however, took no vote on either.
The Eagle Forum of Alabama, a conservative grassroots organization, opposes both bills. In an interview with News Radio WLWI-AM in Montgomery, Executive Director Becky Gerritson said while it seems like a lottery would generate a lot of money, it would not produce many jobs and would create more addiction problems for the state to address.
I really feel that the negatives the lottery brings really outweigh the good that it's going to do,' Gerritson said. Pala casino android app.
Sports Betting Bills Introduced
Michigan Sports Gambling Bill News
State Rep. John Rogers (D-Birmingham) filed two sports betting bills in the state House this week.
On Tuesday, he filed House Bill 315 that would create the Alabama Sports Wagering Commission. Rogers' bill also would allow racetracks and bingos in the state to accept sports bets. It also would allow for mobile applications.
The state would collect a 10 percent tax on adjusted gross receipts.
On Thursday, Rogers filed another bill, House Bill 358, that would allow Alabama cities to pass ordinances legalizing betting on professional, collegiate and amateur events.
Neither of Rogers bills has been heard by a House committee.
Sports Gambling Stocks
Rogers' bills now mean there are 25 states in the country currently with active sports betting legislation. Eight states currently allow it, while legislation has been passed in three other states.
