SB293 Alabama 2022 Session

Under Section 65 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, lotteries and gift enterprises are prohibited

This bill would propose an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to provide for the limited authorization of gambling in the state to be supervised and regulated by a new Alabama Education Lottery and Gambling Commission

The proposed amendment would establish an official state lottery to be known as the Alabama Education Lottery, which would consist solely of games approved and administered by the commission

The proposed amendment would also allow casino-style games, sports betting, bingo, and raffles to be conducted subject to the rules and supervision of the commission. Casino-style games would be limited to in-person, on-premises play at one of a limited number of licensed casinos. Sports betting would be limited to in-person, on-premises play at a licensed casino or play through an online sports betting platform offered through a licensed casino

The proposed amendment would limit the number of licensed casinos to five locations. A single license would be awarded pursuant to a competitive process at each of the following four sites: Greenetrack in Greene County; the Birmingham Race Course in Jefferson County; VictoryLand in Macon County; and the Mobile County Greyhound Racing facility in Mobile County. A fifth licensed casino in either DeKalb or Jackson County would be allowed as part of a compact to be negotiated between the Governor and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Additionally, the compact would address casino-style games and sports betting on Poarch Band of Creek Indians trust land

The proposed amendment would authorize satellite casinos, in addition to licensed casinos, to offer a limited number of electronic gaming machines. A single satellite casino license would be issued in Houston County and Lowndes County

The proposed amendment would require a selected casino operator to negotiate license fees or similar payments with the commission and would impose a tax of 20 percent on the net gambling revenues for casinos and sports betting. Proceeds of the Alabama Education Lottery would be appropriated for the establishment of a scholarship or other program to support educational attainment or fulfillment of the state's workforce needs

Gambling revenues would be appropriated for distribution to cities and counties and would be authorized to be used for capital or other non-recurring expenses that serve a public purpose

Up to one-half of one percent of lottery proceeds and gambling revenues could be appropriated for programs to address problem gambling

Relating to gaming; to propose an amendment to Section 65 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to provide for the limited authorization of gambling subject to regulation and supervision by the Alabama Education Lottery and Gambling Commission; to authorize an official state lottery known as the Alabama Education Lottery, casino-style games, sports betting, bingo, and raffles subject to regulation and supervision by the commission; to limit the play of casino-style games to five licensed casinos; to provide that four of the licensed casinos may be located, by competitive process, at Greenetrack in Greene County, the Birmingham Race Course in Jefferson County, VictoryLand in Macon County, and the Mobile County Greyhound Racing facility in Mobile County; to provide that a fifth licensed casino may be operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians at a location in either DeKalb County or Jackson County to be determined in a compact negotiated by the Governor; to provide for the operation of satellite casinos; to provide that satellite casinos may operate electronic gaming machines; to provide that satellite casinos may be located, by competitive process, in Houston County and Lowndes County; to limit sports betting to the five licensed casinos and to Internet sports betting platforms offered through the five licensed casinos and approved by the commission; to impose license fees and a tax on certain gambling proceeds; to authorize the Governor to negotiate a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians; to provide for appropriation of Alabama Education Lottery proceeds for a scholarship or other program to support educational attainment or fulfilment of the state's workforce needs; and to provide for appropriation of gambling revenues for distributions to cities and counties and for capital or other non-recurring expenses that serve a public purpose.