Alabama Bill Seeks to Put Sports Betting on the Ballot

It seems 2026 could be the year we finally see a legal Alabama sports betting market. 

The state Senate is considering SB 257, a newly proposed bill that would put sports betting and other forms of gambling on the November ballot. This would create a constitutional amendment allowing voters to decide on gambling expansion in the state. 

That includes ending a ban on lottery games, which only four other states still have.

The proposed amendment on sports betting would not directly create a regulated market. Instead, it would authorize lawmakers to create a gaming commission to help build and regulate it. Governor Kay Ivey would also be allowed to work on a gaming compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. 

The Alabama House has been supportive of sports betting, passing a bill to legalize the industry in 2024. However, the Senate rejected the bill, as it did with all previous efforts. 

Industry proponents in the House promised to abandon the issue until the Senate agreed on a bill of its own. They hope SB 257 will do just that.

The Senate Tourism Committee is currently reviewing the bill.

Bill Faces Uphill Battle, But Hope Remains

Like Georgia and Texas, Alabama’s conservative majority has moral and ethical reasons for rejecting sports betting. They consistently cite problem gambling numbers and the responsibility of lawmakers to protect the Alabama residents. 

While those views remain, the math has begun to change in the southern state.

Sports prediction markets now offer a legal form of sports betting in all 50 states. That includes those like Alabama, where state laws ban traditional sports betting. This is driving problem gambling numbers in those markets, which lack the resources needed to address it. Legalizing sports betting would help generate tax revenue to support crucial problem gambling programs.

Industry proponents are holding out hope for SB 257, but its lack of bipartisan support is a concern. Six Democrats proposed the bill, but the party is vastly outnumbered in the state. 

While some Republicans support the industry, the deeply divided state of US politics may make them hesitant to work with the Democrats who sponsored the bill.