Alabama has moved one step closer to joining the ranks of sports betting states.
According to SaturdayDownSouth.com, a gambling package that includes a lottery, casinos, and sports betting on Tuesday moved to the House for consideration just days before the end of the current legislative session. It’s expected to be voted on in the House.
Both retail and online sports wagering would be allowed.
Timeline for legalization
If the legislation clears the final hurdles, Alabama voters would weigh in on sports betting in a November 2022 referendum. The state constitution needs to be amended to make way for the gambling expansion.
If the state has sports betting, it would be regulated by an Alabama Gaming Commission.
The state Senate passed the legislation in mid-April.
*Alabama Sports Betting Bill Passes In Senate
• The bill will now head to the House.
• If passed in the House, retail and online sports betting legalization will be on the 2022 ballot in Alabama.
— Roundhill Investments (@roundhill) April 15, 2021
Alabama would be looking to capture some of the revenue that neighboring Tennessee was able to with its sports betting industry that kicked off in November. Through March, the operators took more than $900 million in wagers and paid $15.5 million in taxes off of $78.3 million in adjusted revenue.
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